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FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

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THE

Victorian Naturalist:

THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE

<iK THE

fyld Jatuttalbb' flub of ^irioria*

VOL. XIV.

MAY. L897, TO APRIL, 1898.

11)011 jEOltor : MR. F. Q. A. BARNARD.

The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and
opinions recorded.

Melbourne :
WALKER, MAY & CO., PRINTERS, MAOKILLOP STREET

(OFF 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET).

1898.

'^-o-'fr^v

e-CLu-i?

INDEX TO VICTOKIAN NATURALIST.

VOL. -2CT-V.

PARE

Aigrettes - - - - 116
Albatross, Egg of Short-
tailed - - - - 142
Alga?, Victorian - 7, 86

Ants and Aphides - - 148
Astur maculosus - - - 43
Australia, Ornithological

Notes from Central - - 166
Australasia, Vegetation of - 36
Australian Grasses - - 110

Bees - - - - - 108
Beetle, A Longicorn - - 146
Beetles, New Carenid - - 108
Birds of Box Hill 53, 69, 123, 154
Birds, Uncommon - - 64
Blight Fly, The - - - 116
Bloomfield Eiver, Trip to - 19
Books, Notices of - 10, 35

" Insectivorous Birds of
New South Wales " - 35

"Life-Histories of North
American Birds" - - 10

"Naturalist's Directory " 35
Botanical Lists - - - 122
Box Hill Birds 53, 69, 123, 154
Brisbane, Trip to - - 1 1 1

Butcher-Bird - 63, 75

Butterfly, A New 5

Carpopliaga Norfolciensis,

Egg of - - 100

Crow-Shrike, The Pied 63, 75
Cuckoo, Bronze - - - 144
Cuckoo, Fantailed - - 100
Cuckoo, Narrow-billed

Bronze - - - 151, 172
Cuckoo, Pallid - - - 58
Edoliisoma tenuirostre - 4

Eggs, Rare - - 4, 76

Emu Wren, Nidification of 140
Erratum - - - -108

Field Naturalists' Club-
Annual Report
Excursions — ■
Black Rock -
Collingwood Quarries -
Hatherley -
Keilor -
Exhibition Wild Flowers -
Proceedings, 1, 17, 37, 49, 60,
81,93, 109, 121, 137, 149, 161
Flora of Victoria, Contribu-
tions to - - 83, 163
Goshawk, A New Victorian - 43
Grasses, Australian - - 110
Honey-eaters - 107, 108, 123

37

138

67

2

52
98

164
84, 108

- 154

- 107
• - 5

- 116

5

- 104

Isopod, A Terrestrial
Lacinularia elliptica

Larks

Lizards -

Lycana cyrilus - -

Lyre Birds' Tails

Megaloprepia magnified

Moth, A New Victorian

Moths, Catalogue of Vic-
torian - 13, 45, 77, 117, 129
Elachistidae - - 80, 117
Gelechiadse - - - 78
GScophoridse - - 13, 45, 77
Plutellidse - - - 117
Tineidae - - - 119, 129
Index to Families, &c. 135, 136

Mueller, Address on late
Baron -

Mueller Memorial

Nest and Eggs, Rare -

Nest and Eggs of Australian
Snipe - - - -

Nidification of Emu Wren -

Orchids -

Ormthological Notes from
Central Australia -

94

115

4

170

140

51

166

INDEX.

PAGE

Parrakeet, The Night - - 92

Parrots and Scale Insects - 106

Petrel, Brown - - - 91

Phreatoi cops is terricola - - 164

Pier is perimale, Synonymy of 74

PrasophyHum fusco-viride - 163

Psetidoterpna singidaris - 104

Ptilopus Swainsoni - -5

Queensland, Trip to North - 19

Queensland Notes - - 1 1 1

Eotifer, A New - 84

Scale Insects, Parrots and - 106

Scolecobrotus Westwoodii - 146

Scrub Wren, Large-billed - 160

Seal, An Uncommon -
Snipe, Australian
Spiders, A New Use for
Tillcea exserta
Trip to Brisbane -
Trip to North Queensland -
Vegetation of Australasia -
Victorian Algse -
Victorian Goshawk, A New -
Victorian Moths - 13, 45, 77, 104,
117, 129
Victorian Plants - 85, 147, 163
Xerophila, The White-faced 34
Xerotes sororia - - - 147

64

PACK

63
170
76
83
111
19
36
86
43

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Lacinidaria elliptica
Lyccena cyrilus
Psetidoterpna singidaris

PAGE

84

6

104

ERRATUM.
Page 155, line 17 — For "Alandidre" read "Alaudidse."

THE

^ic tartan %\atnvali$t*

Vol. XIV.— No. 1. MAY 6, 1897. No. 161.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th April, 1897. Mr.
J. Shephard, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and
about fifty members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Hatherley on Saturday, 13th
March, was read by the leader, Mr. J. Stickland, who mentioned
that the excursion had been very successful. A large number of
specimens, interesting to the student of cryptogamic botany,
such as Freshwater Alga?, Diatoms, &c, were found in the
Kororoit Creek. A few Protozoa and fossil Foraminifera were
also obtained. Phanerogamous plants were represented by
about twenty species found in flower.

A report of the excursion to Coburg on Saturday, 10th April,
was made by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., who stated that the party had
examined with much interest the fine examples of columnar basalt
and geometrical pavement situated on the banks of the Merri
Creek, to the east of the Pentridge Stockade, and had spent some
time in following out the geology of the district.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. H. T. Tisdall, entitled " A Botanical Peep into the
Rocky Pools of Sorrento and Queenscliff." The author gave a
short explanation of the structure of Algae, and then described the
seaweeds which might be found in the first tide-pools left by the
receding waves in such localities. He dealt with them in the
different groups of unicellular plants, such as Diatoms ; those
formed of cell filaments, as Cladophora ; then those formed of
cell plates, as Monastroma ; and lastly, those formed of cell
masses, as Ulva. A description of the seaweeds likely to be
found in a mid-tide pool was then given, the Algae of the deeper
pools being left for a future paper.

The paper was well illustrated by drawings and specimens.

2. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled " The Bird Fauna of the Box Hill
District — Warblers." The author dealt with ten species of
birds, of which eight were true " warblers," whilst one of the
remainder is probably the best warbler in Australia — viz., the
Blue Wren. A large amount of attention was directed to the
genus Acanthiza, and several well-defined, but generally unnoticed,
characters were pointed out by means of specimens of the

icx-ll

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

different species, which are often much confused. The remarks
about nest-building, &c, showed that the author had spent con-
siderable time and patience in making the observations brought
forward.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : —
By Mr. D. Best. — Insects collected during 1896-97. By Mr. A.
Coles. — Eggs of the following rare birds, viz. : — Black-breasted
Buzzard, Square-tailed Kite, Allied Kite, Letter-winged Kite,
Collared Sparrowhawk, Grey Falcon, Black Flcaon, Comb-
crested Parra, Banded Stilt, Minute Bittern, and Spiny-cheeked
Honey-eater. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Beetles new to science,
and described in 1896-97, viz. : — Megacephala Frenchi, M.
Spenceri, Ceratognathus Gilesi, C. Froggatti, Aphileus ferox,
Callirhipis riificornis, Dilochrosis Frenchi, Metaxymorpha gloriosa,
Ischiopsopha Bourkei, Homalosoma impervde, Khytiphora Frenchi,
Anatasis Muelleri, Penthea Spenceri, Opsidota cestuosa, and
Pseudoryctes monstrosus. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of
Lunulated Wattle Bird, Plain-coloured Acanthiza, and Plumed
Ptilotus, from W. Australia. By Mr. G. French. — Dye from
Rhagodia Billardieri. By Messrs. J. Gabriel and G. A. Keart-
land. — Terns' eggs from Norfolk Island, comprising — Black-
cheeked Noddy, Grey Noddy, and White Tern. By Mr. R.
Hall. — Birds, in illustration of paper. By Mr. H. Hill. — Fungus,
new to Victoria, Puccinia sorghi, on common maize from Seville,
Victoria. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Case of Victorian Lepidoptera,
collected during season 1896-97, including two supposed new
species. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S. — Freshwater Algae,
specimens, and descriptions by O. Borge. By Mr. J. Paul. —
Native flowers from Grantville, Victoria. By Mr. F. Spry. — New
fossils from Sewerage Works, South Yarra and Yarra Bank. By
Mr.W. Stone. — Marine form of Cordylophora from Storm Bay, Tas-
mania; also, a Hydroid from same locality. By Mr. W. Stickland.
— Cladophora gracilis, from Kororoit Creek. By Mr. J. Shep-
hard. — Branchipus and Estheria from Brighton. By Mr. H. T.
Tisdall. — Mounted Algae, in illustration of paper.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO HATHERLEY.

On the afternoon of the 13th March, favoured with fine weather,
six members set out for Hatherley, en route for the Kororoit Creek.
A walk of about a mile along the railway line brought the party
to the bridge over the creek, and here work was commenced.
Reeds grew in abundance at this spot, and the shallow water by
the banks afforded a variety of Algas not commonly found in the
vicinity of Melbourne. During the afternoon the party, walking

THE VICTORIAX NATURALIST.

towards the sea, touched the creek at several points, and finally
struck out for the Newport station, thereby reaching town an
hour and a half sooner than would have been possible from
Hatherley. The material collected showed a rather disappointing
paucity of animal life, but there was much for the cryptogamic
botanist. Of the Protozoa taken the most interesting was a
Zoothamnium, apparently Z. dichotomum of Saville Kent. Hand-
some colonies of this were adhering to a cladophora. A peculiar
Vorticella was noted, the breadth of the animalcules being so
great in proportion to their length that they presented almost the
appearance of a saucer. The common Vaginicola, V. crystalline,,
and the more interesting Thuricola, T. opercula'a, secure in their
crystalline sheaths beneath a well-fitting trap door, were found
in numbers. The curious hypotrichous animalcule, Chilodon
cuculhdus, was plentiful. The specimens of this were the largest
we have ever seen, no doubt owing to the abundant food supply,
as they were simply gorging themselves on Diatoms. The few
Rotifers taken were all of common species. A large, clear, stony
pool afforded the ordinary forms of Entomostraca. Specimens
of a Cyclops, however, were noted, showing a pinkish colour to
the eye. Under the microscope this was seen to arise from the
presence of numerous granules of brilliant carmine colour about
the carapace. To determine with certainty the many species of
Algse which lined the banks of the creek would require the
knowledge of an expert. Among the filamentous forms we noted,
in addition to lovely species of Spirogyra, the much rarer Siro-
gonium, apparently S. sticticum of Great Britain. This grows in
whitish-coloured masses, owing to the comparatively small
amount of chlorophyll in the cells. Bluish-green filaments, about
^^-in. in diameter, appeared to be a species of Lyngbya. Of
branching forms we noted a very pretty Cladophora, apparently
C. gracilis, and, clothing the lower part of the reeds, a Stigeo-
clonium in great profusion.

Diatoms in great numbers, mostly parasitic, were taken.
The older cells of the Cladophora were coated with Cocconeis,
probably two species. The Sirogonium filaments gave two species
of Synedra, probably S. idna and S. gracilis, in plentiful clusters.
The Short-stemmed Achnanthes, A. brevipes, dotted some of the
Algae. A pretty filamentous form appeared to be Rhabdonema min-
utum. But the most interesting of the Diatoms was found grow-
ing in large brown plumose tufts, close to the railway bridge.
These were subsequently seen to consist of vast numbers of
gelatinous threads, the Diatoms being packed closely side by
side longitudinally in these filaments. They could be seen,
under the microscope, gliding slowly up and down, passing each
other, but not leaving the limits of their filament. The Diatoms
measured about g^j-in. in length, but are very narrow and

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

elongated in form. They appeared to correspond best with
Berkeleya fragilis, of Smith's " Synopsis." A handsome Pleuro-
sigma, measuring -rf'5'^n- was noted, but its species not deter-
mined. Some earth and shell fragments, taken from the side of
the stony pool abovementioned, were found by Mr. F. Barnard to
contain an interesting variety of Foraminifera.

A fair number of plants in bloom were noted, several of them
being of interest to those members of the party who had not
previously collected on the western side of the metropolis.
Among those noticed may be mentioned Mimulus repens, Glycine
tabacina, Craspedia chrysantha, Myoporum insulare, Convolvulus
sepium, and Mesembrianthemam Australe.

The results of this trip show, we think, the advisability of
varying the locality of our excursions as much as possible. — W.
Stickland.

THREE RARE NESTS AND EGGS.
By A. J. Campbell. Communicated by D. Le Souef.
(Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th March, 1897.)
Edoliisoma tenuirostre, Jardine (Jardine's Caterpillar-eater).

The first authenticated nest and egg of this interesting bird
were discovered in Queensland, 1882, by Mr. C. C. L. Talbot,
and subsequently described by Mr. A. J. North, F.L.S., in the
Records of the Australian Museum, 1891. Other nests of this
species have been found in Victoria this season.

For several seasons Mr. George E. Shepherd noticed these
birds in Oliver's Gully, at the back of Mt. Eliza, Mornington
Peninsula. During a visit of my son and self to Mr. Shepherd,
who lives in the locality, we took the opportunity of exploring
the gully, and were fortunate in finding a nest (the second on
record) on the 20th November, 1896. But we were singularly
unfortunate in losing the egg, which the hen bird broke as she
was startled off her shallow nest. However, through Mr. Shep-
herd's untiring exertions other nests were found (notes of which,
I understand, he has placed before this Club), and an egg taken
by him on the 12th December now enriches my collection.

Nest. — Small and shallow, composed of very fine twigs (in-
cluding Casuarina needles) and a few pieces of bark stuck
together with spider's web, and outwardly decorated with portions
of silvery-grey lichen, a few bits also being inside. Dimensions
in inches overall, 3^ ; egg cavity, 2^ across by ^ deep.

Egg. — Large, compared with the size of its parent ; lengthened
in form, with a sharp-pointed apex, like some of the Thickheads'
eggs, notably Pachycephala olivacea ; shell fine and slightly
lustrous; colour pale or light green (the colour being more
beautiful and intense when a specimen is freshly blown), spotted

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

and blotched nearly over the whole surface with roundish
markings of umber and slate colour. Dimensions in inches,
1.34 x 0.88.

Ptilopus Swainsoni, Gould (Red-crowned Fruit Pigeon).

During my visit to the " Big Scrub," Richmond River, 1891,
I saw many of these beautiful little pigeons, and although I
sought diligently for a nest, as in the case of the Rifle Bird, I
returned home without it. However, I am again indebted to
Mr. W. T. Bailey for sending a nest and egg of the Fruit Pigeon
after me. They were taken with some considerable risk and
difficulty at a height of about fifty feet from the ground in a
Buyong sapling, by Mr. Isaac Foster. Date, 31st November,
1896.

Nest. — A very slight platform, 4 or 5 inches across, composed
of dry twigs placed in a slender horizontal fork. The contents
may be easily seen through the nest from beneath.

Egg. — Oval in shape, sharply nipped off at one end ; texture
of shell fine and slightly lustrous ; colour white. Dimensions in
inches, 1.16 x 0.81.

Megaloprepia magnifica, Temminck (Purple-breasted Fruit
Pigeon).

I am not sure that there is any detailed description given of
the nest and egg of this truly magnificent pigeon.

During my visit to the " Big Scrub," New South Wales,
November, 1891, a nest of the species was found building, but the
operation of scrub-falling in the vicinity caused the birds to desert.

The nest and egg under notice were forwarded to me by Mr.
W. T. Bailey, Richmond River. They were taken by Mr. T.
Foster on the 2nd February in a " black myrtle," at a height of
about 15 feet from the ground.

Nest. — Substantial for a pigeon, slightly concave, almost entirely
composed of wire-like tendrils of climbing plants upon a foundation
of a few coarse sticks. Dimensions, about 6 inches across by
2]/2 deep.

Egg. — Elongated in form and considerably pointed towards the
smaller end. Surface of the shell finely granulated ; colour
white. Dimensions in inches, 1.77 x 1.05. Small, compared
with the size of the bird, and, as in the case of most fruit-eating
pigeons, a single egg only is laid.

A NEW BUTTERFLY, LYCjENA CYRILUS, n. sp.

By E. Anderson and F. P. Spry.

The announcement of a supposed new species among the "blues"
of Victoria was made at the February meeting of the Field
Naturalists' Club of Victoria (Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii.,

6 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

p. 138). As it does not appear to have been previously named,
we have decided to name it Lyccena cyrilus, and append the
following description, with figures (life size), which will enable
collectors to identify it and record its geographical distribution.

WW

Male. Female.

Male. — Upperside. — Uniform shining brown, hind margins
black, fringes pale. Posterior wings with two black spots at anal
angle, slightly crescendo and separated from black marginal line
by a pale blue streak.

Underside. — Pale brown, with a series of spots margined in-
wardly with black, outwardly by pale brown or whitish ; two
black spots at anal angle of posterior wing, having an orange
blotch above and separated from the margin by a white streak,
corresponding to the blue streak on the upper side.

Female. — Upperside. — Costa and marginal area smoky black,
a darker black spot at end of cell, very distinct in some specimens,
but hardly discernible in others ; basal area dark blue. Black
marginal line and pale fringe. Posterior wings with similar
colouration to anterior, but with two deep black crescentic spots
at anal angle, outlined with blue, and indications more or less
faint of a series of smaller crescentic markings along hind margin.

Underside. — As in male, but spots usually larger and better
defined.

The markings on the underside are so variable that no two
specimens seem alike ; in the males, especially, they vary from a
few scattered black dots in light outlines to large spots almost
coalescing into bands. As a means of identification they are
almost useless.

This species was apparently first obtained in Victoria some
years ago by Mr. J. Kershaw, who had in his collection a female
specimen taken at Moe.

In December, 1896, we had the good fortune to procure a

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

series of both sexes, near Cranbourne, and we have lately heard
from Sydney that a male specimen was captured on the wing
during January, 1895, near Wentworth Falls, in the Blue Moun-
tains, by Mr. G. A. Waterhouse, Mr. G. Lyell, jun., having seen
and identified the insect.

A BOTANICAL PEEP INTO THE ROCKY POOLS OF
SORRENTO AND QUEENSCLIFF.

By Henry Thos. Tisdall.
{Bead before Field Naturalists'1 Club of Victoria, 12th April, 1897.)
I wish to draw the attention of some of our members to a branch
of study which opens a wide field of investigation to students of
Nature — I mean the Algae of Victoria. Mr. Harvey, in his
magnificent work on Australian Algse, has delineated and de-
scribed a great number of our seaweeds. The late Mr. H. Watts,
who was an active member of our Club, took a great interest in
our seaweeds, and the specimens which he presented to the
Botanical Museum are a great help to a student. The late Baron
Mueller's list of Alga; in the nth vol. of his " Fragmenta " is also
a great boon. Since that list was published, owing to the in-
defatigable exertions of the late Mr. Bracebridge Wilson, of
Geelong, a great increase has been made in the known seaweeds
of Victoria. But I am quite sure, from the experience I have
had during my visits to Flinders, Sorrento, and Ocean Grove,
that there is still plenty of scope for further investigation and a
good chance for members who would undertake it to find many
of these plants which are, if not quite new to science, still un-
recorded as being found in Victoria.

As the study of Alga; is not common, I propose to preface my
remarks by giving a brief outline of the structure and habit of
these peculiar plants. Seaweeds are entirely composed of tiny
structures called cells ; these are generally quite microscopic, and
consist of a bag or sac containing protoplasm, a nucleus, &c.
There are seaweeds so minute that they are entirely composed of
a single cell. With a good microscope we may find hundreds of
these on almost any seaweed we pick up; these are termed
unicellular. Again, we may find a number of these cells fastened
together by their ends only, like a string of beads ; these are said
to be cell filaments. If these filaments are also fastened sideways
to each other so as to form a thin sheet they are called cell plates ;
and lastly, if a number of these plates be placed one over another
they are termed cell masses. Thus, according to structure, we
may divide seaweeds into " unicellular," " cell filaments," " cell
plates," and " cell masses." In addition to this cell structure
most land plants are provided with long tubes or vessels for con-
veying nourishment to their various parts, but these vessels are

8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

entirely wanting in seaweeds. Another marked difference between
Alg?e and land plants is found in the absence of true roots, stems,
and leaves. The casual observer may object to this statement,
as many seaweeds appear to have all three ; but when examined
carefully the apparent roots, stems, and leaves will be found to
be only masses of cell tissue, without either the structure or
function of these organs.

Structure and form are not the only characters we have to
notice. Seaweed derives a good deal of its nourishment from the
mineral salts contained in sea water, and these, together with a
certain amount of water, are absorbed by the plant ; but a most
important ingredient of its food, carbon, can only be obtained by
the help of a peculiar green substance termed chlorophyll, which
Algge contain in common with most land plants. Under certain
circumstances this chlorophyll is masked or hidden by brown,
olive, or red pigments, so that we find seaweeds of many colours.
Colour is particularly noticed in Alga?, as with it is usually asso-
ciated some important characters, such as reproduction, locality,
&c. Botanists have therefore divided seaweeds into green (Chlo
rophycese), brown or olive (Phaeophycese), and red (Rhodophyceae).
With reference to their methods of reproduction, it will be more
convenient to explain them in connection with a few special
plants as occasion requires.

On visiting the seashore it may be that the tide is in, so that
we can only stroll along the edge of the water, and pick up an
occasional seaweed drifted in and thrown on the shore by the
waves. We ought to place these by themselves, as we cannot be
certain of their locality.

After a time the tide begins to recede, and our first rocky pool
is accessible. Going down on our knees, knife in hand, we slip
the blade under a delicate structure as close to the rock as
possible, then place our first find in our bottle.

A common salt-jar filled with seawater will be found very useful
for this purpose. If we notice the contents of this pool carefully we
shall first observe that most of the seaweeds are of a bright green
colour. As the blue Alg?e (Cyanophycege) are for the most part
too small to be easily seen, we may pass them over with the
remark that they are either unicellular or form chains of cells,
either naked or surrounded by a gelatinous covering. Amongst
the mass of vegetation in the pool we get confused, and hardly
know where to begin. Tufts of delicate green hair-like plants
waving backwards and forwards with the motion of the tide catch
our eye ; at the first glance they all appear alike, but soon we can
distinguish that some are elongated threads that do not branch ;
these are Confervse. The beautiful branched ones are Clado-
phora. They are closely allied, and both are formed of cell fila-
ments. From any of the cells of Cladophora gametes may be

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9

produced. These are nearly egg-shaped, marked with a red spot,
and have two long hair-like cilia, by means of which they move
about. These gametes, which appear exactly alik , pair, and
produce a kind of seed called a zygote, from which a new plant
arises; this kind of reproduction is nearly the same in all the green
seaweeds. Those thin green leaves like lettuce are Ulva — they are
formed of a double cell plate; a red variety, Porphyra, was and is
greatly used as a food in the Western Hebrides. Berkeley mentions
that during the hard winter of 1826 the inhabitants of one large
island had absolutely nothing else to eat. Another filamentous
plant, with extra large cells, is Chsetomorpha ; it may be found
in the sandy patches at the bottom of the pool. Near these
curious fan-shaped green leaves may be observed. Their structure
is very peculiar, being entirely formed of fine filaments incrusted
together by carbonate of lime. They are known as Udotea. and are
easily distinguished by the hardness of the leaves. This hardness
is occasioned by the carbonate. That soft green stalk always
branching into two is well worth examining. The surface is like
the pile of velvet, and is formed by thousands of tiny tubes
radiating from a large central tube. As there are no divisions
across the tubes the whole of the Codium, as it is named, must
be considered as unicellular. A number of green bulbous-looking
plants next claim our attention. Although some of them attain a
considerable size, they, like the Codium, are invariably composed
of the branching of a single cell, but the tubes are strengthened
by crossbars of the same substance as the cell wall. It is really
wonderful to see the variety of forms simulated by these plants,
which are known as Caulerpa. Some have rhizome-like ex-
tensions, which creep along the sand or rock exactly like fern
roots. From these arise fronds, some resembling mosses or club
mosses, others cacti or yews, &c About eighty species of these
plants are known, but the only method of reproduction observed
so far is by the separation of small shoots which break off the
parent plant, and afterwards grow into new Caulerpa. All over
the bottom and sides of the pool, and, indeed, all over the un-
covered rock, thousands of the quaint-looking Hormosira may be
seen. They grow in tufts, and are composed entirely of long
strings of brown berries ; these berries are really air bladders,
and enable the plants to become erect when the tide covers
them. The walls of the bladders are fleshy, and contain cavities
in which are concealed the reproductive organs These organs,
or gametes, are not alike, as in the Cladophora. One kind consists
of tiny cells containing zoospores. These escape from the
ruptured cell, and swim about in the water by means of their
cilia. The other gamete is many thousand times larger, egg-
shaped, and enclosed by a sac with two coverings ; the outer
covering bursts and the inner one, with its contents, consisting of

10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

eight sphere-like bodies, continues to swell, until finally it
ruptures and the spherical oospheres are liberated ; they are
immediately surrounded by the zoospores, and from their union
the seed of a new plant is formed. This method of reproduction
is very much alike among all the brown and olive-coloured sea-
weeds.

If some of the larger seaweeds in the pool be moved aside, a
lovely little red seaweed may be found. This is a Polysiphonia,
so-called from its curious structure. The stem consists of
a large central tube, completely surrounded by a great number
of smaller tubes at the top.

If you get a thick stick of macaroni and surround it closely
with thin pieces of vermicelli you obtain a very good likeness
to the stem of one of these plants. It may be observed that this
structure is very different from that of the seaweeds already
described. Indeed, in the red Algge, of which the Polysiphonen
may be considered a fair type, the structure and methods of
reproduction are of a very much higher order — I mean more
closely resembling land plants — than any others. Before leaving
the first uncovered pool I must notice the presence of two plants
which occur in great numbers, and which puzzled me greatly
when I first examined then. One is a grass-like plant often seen
covering large sandy patches of the bottom of the pool. These,
although growing in seawaler, are not considered as seaweeds, but
belong to a separate order of higher plants, inasmuch as they have
true roots, stems, and leaves, and contain also in their structure
the vessels which were mentioned as being peculiar to land
plants. The second of these plants is worth examining. It is
called Cymodacea, and consists of a long stem with a bunch of
thick green leaves. If it is growing on the rock you will
find that it has long creeping horizontal stems, firmly fastened
to the rock ; from these creeping stems the plants arise.
But if you discover the same plant growing on sand, take it up
carefully and you may perceive a quantity of small pieces of sea-
weeds fastened round the base ; remove these carefully, and find
two comb-like anchors, to which the seaweeds were fastened, and
two or four fleshy roots which had penetrated the sand seeking for
nourishment. These two conditions may be explained by the
plant's efforts at reproduction. It has true flowers like land
plants, but unless quite uncovered by the tide these seldom
produce seed, so the plant grows longer and longer. I have
frequently found it from three to four yards long. At last two
leaf-like outgrowths are formed at the base of the tuft of leaves.
These outgrowths increase in size, and consist of a very stiff
skeleton of spines, surrounded by the usual fleshy material. The
soft part decays, and thus the plant has two spiny anchors below
its leaves. The top of the stem now breaks just below the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 1 I

anchors, and the top is washed away by the waves. It is very
light, and may be carried for a long distance, but in time small
pieces of floating seaweed get caught by the anchors, and gradually
the Cymodacea gets heavier, and, like an overburdened balloon, it
slowly sinks to the bottom. It then puts out the two or four
roots and commences a new life.

The description of the plants in our first pool has taken so
much time that I shall only just mention the other places where
new specimens may be found. In the half-tide pool, among
others, the following may be obtained : — Ceramium, Corallina,
Polysiphonia, Chorda, and Haliseris. The pool at low water
mark will contain Callithamnion, other Polysiphonia, Gegartium,
Splachnidium, Zoonaria, and Chorda. The lowest pool can only
be visited occasionally, and only during calm weather. The
collector should be almost divested of clothes, and should carry a
long pole with an iron spade-like ending to loosen the specimens.
A bag should be used instead of a glass jar, as one is sure to slip
about. In this pool, you will find the ball-like Codium, lovely
Ceramium, and immense masses of Cystophora, so closely related
to the seaweeds which form the Sargasso seas. After a storm
treasures from the vasty deep will be thrown in heaps on the
shore, but they must be collected before the next tide draws
them back into the ocean. Amongst them we may find occasion-
ally the lovely Claudea elegans, red masses of Rhodymenia,
Nothea, Myriodesma, the Ballia with its ever changeful hues
from bright green to brown and red, and broken fragments of the
huge Microcystis. Before concluding, I would like to express
my gratitude to the officers in charge of the Botanic Museum, and
more particularly to Mr. Luehmann, whose courtesy and help was
of vital importance to me during my study of the names and
characters of the seaweeds I was fortunate enough to find.

If our members would like to hear anything further as to the
structure, nourishment, and reproduction of the seaweed in the
last three tide pools, I should be only too pleased to give another
paper at some future time.

REVIEW.

" Life- Histories of North American Birds," Part ii. By
Charles Bendire, Captain and Brevet-Major U.S.A. (retired),
Honorary Curator of the Department of Oology, U.S. National
Museum — Special Bulletin No. 3.

By the recent issue of Part ii. of Captain Charles Bendire's " Life-
Histories of North American Birds " this magnificent work has
been advanced another stage. From so wealthy an institution as
the United States National Museum at Washington one always

12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

looks for the production of literature of a very superior kind, and
is certainly not disappointed while turning over the pages of
Special Bulletin No. 3, for it is impossible to speak too highly in
its praise. The work is in quarto form, and contains the life-
histories of the different species of Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Wood-
peckers, Goatsuckers, Swifts, Humming-birds, Tyrant Flycatchers,
Larks, Crows, Jays, Magpies, Blackbirds, Orioles, Crackles, &c,
&c. It is indeed fortunate that the United States National
Museum possesses in Captain Bendire an honorary oological
curator to whom the preparation of this vast amount of informa-
tion has been a labour of love. Most of it is the result of his
own observations in the field extending over a period of many
years, and he is ably assisted by various correspondents, whose
names appear in different parts of the volume. The geographical
distribution, habits, and food of each species are fully and
accurately given ; also that most difficult part of a bird's history,
the sounds of its varied notes, whether of love, alarm, or anger.
Especial attention has been paid to the nests and eggs of each
species, and of the latter not only have typical specimens been
described, but all the known varieties ; and many of them are of
the writer's own collecting. The plates of eggs are admirable,
and have been reproduced from water-colour drawings made by
Mr. John L. Ridgway, of Washington. They are simply perfect,
and could not be surpassed. In many valuable ornithological
works the chromo-lithographic representations of birds' eggs,
although accurate in colour and markings, are flat, and appear
like sections, but in the present volume the figures are beautifully
worked up, and possess a certain roundness which gives one as
much pleasure as looking at the actual eggs. The work is well
printed, and ranks among the best contributions to ornithological
literature. It is to be hoped that Captain Bendire will finish as
far as possible the complete " Life-Histories of North American
Birds." — A. J. N. 10th April, 1897.

PS. — It is my painful duty to add an obituary note to the
above review. By the American mail just to hand, 28th April, I
have received from Mr. A. K. Fisher, of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, a notification of the death of Captain Chas. Bendire,
at Jacksonville, Florida, where he had gone in the hopes of gaining
a respite from Bright's disease, from which he had been suffering
for some time past. It is not my intention to pass any eulogies
here on the late Captain Bendire, although he will be greatly
missed by lovers of ornithology in all parts of the world. His
kindly nature, exhibited in his communications, is shown all
through his works, and the latter form a fitting and enduring
memorial of his successful life-work. — A. J. N.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 13

A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA.

By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S.

Part XXIII.

829. P. porphyryxantha, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 181,

1893).
Kewell.

830. P. ophiodes, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1,621, 1S88).
Gisborne.

^831. P. iosema, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1,618, 1888).
Melbourne.

*83 2. P. sigmophora, Meyr. (Eriodyta sigmophora, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.VV. — (Ecophoridce, x., 50).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

833. P. pachygramma, Lower (MSS.)
This is P. chalcoxantha, Meyr.

*834. P. monophaes, Meyr. (loc. cit., (Ecophoridce, x., 38).
Geelong.

835. P. aetopis, Meyr. {loc. cit., 1,627, *888).
Fernshaw.

836. P. euxantha, Meyr. (loc. cit., (Ecophoridce, x., 39).
Melbourne, &c.

837. P. xanthiella, Walk. ((Ecophora xanthiella, Walk., B. M.

Cat., 693 ; Philobota xanthiella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.VV. — (Ecophoridce, x., 39).
Melbourne, &c.

838. P. amalodes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1,626, 1888).
Fernshaw.

839. P. fascialis, Fabr. (Ent. Syst. 644 ; Tortrix bimaculana,

Don., Ins. New. Holl. ) (Ecophora bimaculella, New-
man, Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., iii., N.S , 295 ; (Ecophora
bimaculana, Walk., B. M. Cat. 657; Feld., Reis. Nov.,
pi. cxxKviii., 48 ; Philobota bimaculana, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, x., 40).

*84o. P. catachrysa, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1625, 1888).
Melbourne (? Moe).

841. P. DORSVITTELLA, Walk.

Melbourne and Gisborne.

842. P. pulverea, Meyr. (loc. cit., (Ecophoridce, x., 43).
Gisborne.

14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

LEISTOMORPHA. Meyr.

843. L. brontoscopa, Meyr. (loc. cit., (Ecophoridce, x., 44).
Sale, Gisborne.

844. L. (?) ochrocausta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 45).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

COMPSOTROPHA. Meyr.

*845. C. selenias, Meyr. (loc. cit., 46).
Melbourne.

*846. C. strophiella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 47).
Melbourne.

^847. C. charidotis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 47).
Melbourne (? Brighton).

848. C. hemispila, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1636, 1888).
Warragul.

ERIODYTA. Meyr.

^849. E. contentella, Walk. (CEcophora contentella, Walk., B.
M. Cat., 1 03 1 ; Eriodyta contentella, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc, N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, x., 49).
Melbourne.

PHILONYMPHA. Meyr.

850. P. abductella, Walk. (Gelechia abductella, Walk., B. M.

Cat., 650 ; Eriodyta "abductella, Meyr., Proc. Linn
Soc, N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, x., 51).
Warragul.

PELTOPHORA. Meyr.

851. P. holocycla, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 98, 1894).
Stawell.

*&$2. P. amphitoxa, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1,642,
1888).
Oakleigh.

*853. P. ATRicOLLis,Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce,,
xi., 6).
Gisborne, Melbourne.

*854. P. argutella, Zeller (CEcophora argutella, Zeller, Hor.
Ros., 1877, 391 ; Peltophora argutella, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, xi., 6).
Gisborne, Colac.

855. P. marionella, Newman (CEcophora marionella, Newm.,
Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., iii., N.S., 294, pi. xviii., 7 ;
Peltophora, marionella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.
— (Ecophoridce, xi., 8).
Gisborne, Melbourne.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 15

856. P. eugramma, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 98, 1894).
Springvale.

*857. P. incomposita, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. —
CEcophoridce, xi., 8).
Gisborne.

*858. P. theorica, Meyr. (loc. cit,, 9).
Gisborne.

859. P. auantis, Meyr. (loc. cit,, 1,642, 1888).
Melbourne.

860. P. fulvia, Butler (Gryptopeges fulvia, Butler, Ann. Mag.

Nat. Hist., 1882, 10 1 ; Peltophora fulvia, Meyr.,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — CEcophoridce, xi., 12).
Warragul, Fernshaw.

861. P. proximella, Walk. (Incurvaria proximella, Walk., 490 ;

Peltophora proximella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, xi., 13).
Melbourne.

*862. P. psilopla, Meyr. (loc, cit., 15).
Gisborne.

863. P. privatella, Walk. (Grijptolechia privatella, Walk., 753 ;

C. latiorella, ih., 755 ; Chezahi, allatella, ib., 788 ;
Peltophora privatella, Meyr, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.
— CEcophoridce, xi., 17).
Melbourne.

864. P. balanota, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1,643, 1888).
Warragul.

OROPHIA. Meyr.

865. O. CINETICA, Meyr. (loc. cit., CEcophoridce, xi., 18).
Warragul.

PROTOMACHA. Meyr.
*866. P. chalcaspis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 19).
Gisborne.

867. P. cara, Butler (Zacorus cams, Butler, Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist., 1882, 103 ; Protomacha cara, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — CEcophoridce, xi., 20).
Melbourne.

THALEROTRICHA. Meyr.

*868. T. mylicella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 21).
Gisborne, Melbourne.

16 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

PHR YGANE UTIS. Meyr.
ANTIOPALA. Meyr.
SAROPLA. Meyr.

*86q S. hyperocha, Meyr. (loc. cit., 24).
Melbourne.

*8]o. S. clelatella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 25).
Melbourne.

PLEUROTA. Hb.

871. P. protogramma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 31).
Colac, Windsor.

872. P. brevivittella, Walk. (Thema brevivittella, Walk., B. M.

Cat., 802 ; P. brevivittella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W. ; P. pyrosema, Meyr., loc. cit., 34).
Melbourne, Fernshaw, Gisborne.

873. P. callizona, Meyr. (loc. cit., 33).
Fernshaw.

874. P. endesma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 35).
Fernshaw, Warragul

875. P. gypsina, Meyr. (loc. cit., 36).
Fernshaw.

*876. P. chlorochyta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 37).
Stawell.

*877. P. stasiastica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 37).
Gisborne.

*878. P. argoptera, Meyr. (loc. cit., 38).
Frankston.

A THER OPLA . Meyr.

COERANICA. Meyr.

879. C. Isabella, Newman (CEcophora isabella, Newm., Tr. Ent.
Soc. Lond., iii., N.S., 295, pi. xviii. ; G. isabella, Meyr.
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecoplioridm, xi., 40).
Gisborne, Melbourne, &c.
*88o. C. eritima, Meyr. (loc. cit.)
Gisborne.

EULACHNA. Meyr.

ARISTEIS. Meyr.

*88i. A. chrysoteuches, Meyr. (loc. cit., 42).
Ringwood.

THE

tyict avian %\at n v a I i 0 1,

Vol. XIV.— No. 2. JUNE 10, 1897. No. 162.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, ioth May, 1897. Mr.
J. Shephard, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and
some forty-five members and visitors were present.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Messrs. A. J. Campbell and A.
Campbell, jun., were elected members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

After the nomination of office-bearers for 1897-98 had been
made, Messrs. J. T. Gillespie and R. Hall were elected to audit
the accounts for the past year.

Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., referred to the delay in announc-
ing any scheme to perpetuate the memory of the late Baron Sir
F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., Government Botanist, and suggested
that the Club should raise a sum of money to be invested and
provide for a prize to be called " The Mueller Prize," to be given
at stated intervals for original work on Australian botany.

The Chairman pointed out that the matter was in the hands of
a committee of delegates from different societies, called together
by the Royal Geographical Society (Victorian Branch), and that
it would be unwise to take any action, in the absence of any
information as to what was being done. It was decided to ask
the Club's delegates to report at next meeting as to the progress
made by the conference.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. A. Coles, entitled "Notes on the Australian Gos-
hawk." The author stated, as the result of many years ob-
servations, that the bird commonly known in Victoria as the
Australian Goshawk differed in many respects from the typical
Astur approximans of Vigors and Horsfield, which was com-
paratively rare in Victoria, and as he had not been able to obtain
any birds showing gradations of plumage between the two types,
he considered it sufficiently marked to be worthy of a specific
name. The measurements of the bones also pointed to a specific
difference.

Considerable discussion took place on the question, and the
author undertook to furnish further details at the next meeting.

/

18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

2. By Mr. H. Bullen, entitled " On the Importance of the
Tube-length in the Use of the Microscope." The author pointed
out the errors into which young beginners, especially, were likely
to fall by obtaining eye-pieces, object glasses, and stands from
different makers, and using them indiscriminately, and showed
by quotations from makers' catalogues that the various makers
had different focal lengths for their glasses, and consequently
true definition of objects could not be obtained with apparatus
derived from various sources.

Some discussion ensued, which in the main supported the
author's contentions.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. J. Shephard mentioned that a Diatomaceous deposit,
evidently of brackish water origin, had been found by Mr. F.
Spry, in the course of the sewerage excavations at South Yarra,
at a depth of about 30 ft below the level of the River Yarra,
and, from the result of a cursory examination, was apparently the
same as the well-known South Yarra deposit obtained many
years ago by the late Dr. Coates, during the formation of the
railway embankment near the same place.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : —
By Mr. E. Anderson. — Victorian lepidoptera, including fine
series of Ogyris abrota, Gastrophora henricaria, &c, bred this
season. By Mr. A. Coles. — Two specimens of Australian Gos-
hawk, and five specimens and eggs of the spotted variety, in
illustration of paper. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S.— 94 species of
American Hawk-Moths. By Mr. J. Gabriel — Shells dredged at
Western Port Bay. By Mr. R. Hall. — Eight species of Victorian
Robins. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Rare Victorian lepidoptera.
By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S. — New species of Eriostemon and
Mesembrianthemum, from Esperance Bay, W. Australia. By Mr.
F. M. Reader. — Lipocarpha microcephala and Brachycome scapi-
formis, plants new for N.W. Victoria.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

We are pleased to welcome home our fellow-member, Mr. G. A.
Keartland, naturalist on the ill-fated Calvert Exploring Expedition
in North- West Australia, after an absence of about twelve months.
Mr. Keartland has made extensive collections of the natural
history of that part of the continent, and will doubtless be able to
furnish many interesting notes for future pages.

Mr. G. Sweet, F.G.S., accompanied by Mrs. Sweet, has left
Melbourne to take part in another attempt to ascertain, by boring,
something of the life-history, &c, of the coral animal. The scene
of operations is the island of Funa-futi, near Fiji.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19

A TRIP TO THE BLOOMFIELD RIVER DISTRICT,
NORTH QUEENSLAND.
By D. Le Souef.
(Bead before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th March, 1897.)
A few days after the trip to Mt. Peter Botte we paid a visit to
the Hope Islands, situated eleven miles from the mouth of the
Bloomfield River. Leaving Wyalla in the evening, we walked to
the river and camped there for the night, starting shortly after
daylight next morning in the cutter, but as the breeze was very
light we did not reach the islands until midday. The tide being
out, we anchored the boat in shallow water and waded ashore ;
there were two islands, one composed of dead coral and the
other of sand, and they were about half a mile apart. The
former one was visited first, and we found it to be about three-
quarters of a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad, mostly
fringed with a dense growth of mangroves. Walking over the
dead coral by which the island was surrounded was trying and
slow work, as the points were very sharp, and it was practically
impossible to walk over it with bare feet. In the small salt-
water inlets fish swarmed ; there were also many clam shells, and
one had to be careful when wading through the water not to put
one's foot into them, as they were of course open and resting
with their orifice upwards, and the fish being green, looked very
similar to seaweed. They have great strength, and if they closed
on a portion of one's foot it would be very awkward, as the shells
are hard and thick, and difficult to break. When disturbed, the
fish quickly closes its shell, squirting out water when they do so.
There appears to be two kinds, the smaller one on the sand, and
the other, which grows to a great size, in small cavities on the
coral, which cavity, as they grow larger, increases in size to cor-
respond with the shell, but in what way the clam enlarges the
hole I cannot say. The biggest pair of shells I ever saw are the
ones I possess, and they weigh 4 cvvt., but what their weight was
with the fish in I am unable to state, but it must have been con-
siderable.

Some White and Sombre Reef Herons flew away from where
we landed, and a nest of the latter was quickly found with two
nearly fully fledged young ones in it, and many other nests were
discovered of both birds, but all were old. I do not think that
they breed until April, that being the month that Mr. R. Hislop
got several fresh clutches of their eggs. At one end of the island
Panayan Terns, Sterna ancestheta, were noticed flying about in
great numbers and in a high state of alarm, and on going there
and hunting on the ground, among the scanty vegetation, just
above high water mark, we succeeded in finding many of their
single eggs, laid on the bare ground under some cover, such as

20 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

the thin straggling bushes, or more generally still the roots and
leaves of the Pandanus Palms. But the principal bird on the
island was the Torres Strait Pigeon, Garpophaga spilorrhoa, and
they were nesting there in thousands, and we got quite confused
when going through the mangroves by the noise the birds made
flying off their nests and away through the thick leaves of the
trees above, and we were glad to return to the beach out of their
immediate neighbourhood ; their nests were everywhere and all
sizes, some only a few sticks, but by far the larger majority were
much more bulky, being composed of green twigs with the leaves
left on, and on the Barnard and other islands where I have found
large numbers of these birds nesting I have noticed the same
thing, and rarely found a fragile nest, as most other pigeons build.
We noticed either one egg or one young one in each nest, and I
have never yet seen two, although I have looked carefully.
Visitors from Cooktown occasionally come to these islands during
the breeding season to shoot pigeons, but it seems great cruelty
when practically all are nesting. There was the continual, unin-
terrupted sound of cooing all day long all over the island, which
will give some idea of the great number of birds needed to
produce it. A few of the eggs were fresh, but most were sat on,
and some of the young pigeons were commencing to fly. Varied
Honey-eaters, PtUotis versicolor, were plentiful, and their cheerful
note often heard ; a few pairs of Azure Kingfishers, Alcyone
azurea, were seen, and they nested in the dead hollow branches
of the Pandanus Palm, and one pair of Barred-Shouldered Doves,
Geopelia humeralis, were noticed, and a Northern Fantail,
Rhipidura setosa. Circling above our heads were a pair of young
White-bellied Sea Eagles, Halicetus leucogaster, and the nest found
on which they had been hatched, situated on a big mangrove
tree. On climbing up, remains of terns and other sea birds were
noticed, that the young had been evidently fed on ; the parent
birds were not seen. On a log near the shore was evidently the
favourite feeding place of these birds, as quite a heap of bones,
feathers, &c, was found that these eagles had evidently eaten
there. There were plenty of crabs among the broken coral and
mud under the mangroves, and they often excavated good-sized
holes to take refuge in, and the material they had taken out
formed a small mound round the entrance. The water was
shallow for a long way out and beautifully clear. Close to the
shore the sun made the water quite hot. Mr. F. Hislop and the
black boy speared a few fish.

The dead coral looks very dirty and portions soon get broken,
but most of it is very hard and rough, and heaps of it get washed
up on the shore by the action of the waves. There were very few
shells and those mostly broken. As the coral grows nearer to the
surface of the sea portions get exposed to the hot sun at low tide.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21

They soon die, but some kinds seem to live in such circum-
stances longer than others. The branched varieties die first, being
more quickly heated through When being rowed in a boat at
low tide over the living coral reefs, which perhaps were in some
places only about six inches below the surface, the sight was of
extreme beauty and interest. It grows very unevenly, and is
very difficult to walk over, there often being deep holes of various
sizes among it. There were many different kinds, of all shapes,
sizes, and colours, and some grew into immense blocks. The
green colour seemed to prevail. One plentiful branched variety
was pure white, another pink of various shades, and another
bright blue, and often near it was seen lying on the bottom blue
Star Fish of exactly the same hue as the coral. Another coral was
dark red ; one variety often predominated over small areas.
Among all this extremely beautiful growth various fish were
noticed, and their vivid colours harmonized wonderfully with
their surroundings. When a coral reef has grown to the level of
low water it dies, but still continues to grow all round the edges
in the deeper water, and so is continually making the reef larger.
Some of the coarser sponges were numerous ; their prevailing
colour when alive was also like the coral — different shades of
green, but sometimes blue or purple ; they were of various
shapes and sizes, but the cup-shaped variety predominated.
On walking over a dead coral reef at low tide it was found to
be full of insect life, many of the Fringed Star Fish, Sea Worms,
&c, &c, being of beautiful colours. On wading through some
shallow water my companion jumped on one side, calling out
"Snake !" but on examining it we found a long green and very soft
slug, about 2^ feet long, and with a bright-coloured beautiful
fringe on one end, round its mouth. One black-coloured eel
disdained to run away when approached in the shallow water,
but opened his mouth at the intruder as if to scare him away.
I have seen the same kind at Singapore, and it is there known as
the Coral Eel, and feared by the natives, as it readily attacks
them when among the coral. The clear water by the reef was
seen to be full of life, which glittered in the bright sunlight.
Cowries and other shells were found on the reef.

Towards evening we sailed to the other island and made our
camp under a thick clump of Pandanus Palms. This island was
almost circular, and all composed of sand and covered with scrub.
A small clearing had been made in the centre by some Beche-de-
mer fishers, but it was mostly overgrown again, one or two
plants of sugar cane and manioc being still left. In the clear
water round the island large shoals of small fish were seen, and
they kept as near the beach in the shallow water as they could,
and looked like a long, broad black band slowly moving forward.
Sharks and other larger fish were continually making a dash at

22 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

them with open mouth from the sea side, Silver Gulls and terns
kept diving down on them from above, and if they went in the
shallow water on the reef pelicans were there on the look- out for
them, consequently they had a lively time of it in trying to save
their lives from their various enemies both above and below.
Small sharks were also plentiful, and came as close to the beach
as the water would allow them, one I saw being only a foot away
from the shore, consequently we did not venture to bathe. Often
when a tern seized a fish and flew up with it, a Silver Gull, Larus
Novw-Hollandice, that had been on the watch would worry it and
make it drop the prey before it had time to swallow it, which the
gull would then catch before it reached the water, and flying to a
neighbouring rock eat it at its leisure. When there happened to
be no terns about the gull had to fish for itself, which it did by
either diving down from a height or swimming on the water and
catching the small fish that happened, unfortunately for themselves,
to come within reach. Numbers of Sombre and White Reef Herons,
Demiegretta Greyi, camped on the island, running about on the
ground under the bushes as well as roosting on the trees, and
some of their old stick nests were found built on matted vegeta-
tion within a foot of the ground ; the surface consequently was
strongly impregnated with guano, which smelt very strong after a
shower of rain. One morning at 4 o'clock, just before daylight,
I heard a company of these birds making a considerable croaking
noise together, but on my going to their neighbourhood they
stopped.

At low tide the reef on which these islands were was left
exposed, and it was considerably over a mile long and nearly as
wide. A small solitary mangrove tree was growing about the centre
of it, which, in the distance, looked like a rock, and on walking
over this reef when dry we often noticed in the shallow pools
various kinds of slugs, one kind especially being purplish-black and
six inches to a foot long. The numerous Fringed Star Fish hide
their bodies in the sand and extend their feelers into the water
above, and I was puzzled at first, seeing these tenacles waving
about in the still water, to know what they belonged to. There
are two kinds of Beche-de-mer, but they have mostly been
collected by fishermen, and are consequently scarce, as this fishery
has been going on for many years. The slugs are half-boiled,
dried, and then sent to China, and a large trade used to be done
in them. They look like pieces of thick, dark-coloured leather
when ready for shipment. We saw two kinds of Sea Snakes
swimming on the surface of the water, Hydrophis Stokesii and
Hydrophis elegans. They were about 7 ft. long. Our boat-
man said the largest he had seen was on the Barrier Reef, and was
about 15 ft. long, and the thickness of an ordinary oar. We
had been informed by our boatman that we should bring fishing

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23

lines, as we should be able to catch plenty of fish, but we fished
and fished and caught nothing. On informing our skipper, he
said we should catch plenty just as the tide turned, which it did
at 3 o'clock in the morning. Well, at that hour one of our
party was up and hard at it, but with no result. We were then
informed that we ought to fish over live coral, consequently we
got our small dingy and did so, but with no more success than
before, only an occasional one being caught, so we came to the
conclusion that they did not bite, and gave up trying to catch
them. Our boatman then said we were there at the wrong time
of the year. He would not be beaten at our, and also his, want
of success.

During the night we heard what we thought was a rat running
about our tent and gnawing at our bread, and one of us put his
hand on the intruder accidentally in the dark, and thought it
rather hard for a rat, but did not leave his hand long enough
there to make quite sure. We soon found out that it was a good-
sized strong crab, Ocypoda cerathopthalma, that was making free
of our tent and its contents and disturbing our rest. I caught
and placed him in an empty tin, but did not mention the fact to
the others ; and later on, when we arrived at the Bloomfield
River, Mr. Anderson camped there for the night in charge of our
luggage, and during the night heard strange sounds proceeding
from the pile of goods, and he could not make it out, or sleep
while it was going on, and it was a long time before he could
ascertain the cause, which turned out to be my crab exercising him-
self in the empty tin. A few Torres Strait Pigeons, Carpophaga
spilorrhoa, were on this island, but they were not nesting. At
daylight in the morning I rambled through the scrub, which was
dripping with rain which had fallen during the night, and shot
three birds for our breakfast. On returning to the camp I hung
my wet clothes before the fire to dry, and as the sky was overcast,
I sat on a log on the beach skinning birds, and dressed only in
my handkerchief for about half an hour, by which time my things
were dry ; but during the day I found to my sorrow that the
whole of the skin of my body was sunburnt, and in a few days
time it all peeled off, and only those who have passed through a
similar experience know the pain and discomfort it causes. I
only mention this to warn others.

After spending one day on the island we left at daylight on the
following morning for the Pickersgill Reef, about 8 miles off, but the
breeze being very light it was midday before we reached it. On
passing over some shallow water a turtle was observed, but
catching sight of us it rapidly swam away. On the sandbank,
which is ioo yards long by 50 wide, were large numbers of
Indian Terns, Sterna media. These birds nest here yearly, and
we hoped to have found some of their eggs, but we were too

2-i THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

early. The noise they made was deafening when they all rose
screeching into the air. A pair of Caspian Terns, Sterna Caspia,
also flew away as we approached, and some White Reef Herons
and Pelicans. The bank was pure white sand, and the glare
in the hot sun considerable. A few logs of driftwood had been
washed up by the sea, and at high tide it cannot be much above
the level of the water. We were told that grass used to grow on
it, but a heavy storm washed it all away, and a good deal of the
island too. We picked up some pretty shells and coral, and saw
numerous tracks of turtles on the sand, and after staying about
an hour set sail with a freshening breeze for the Bloomfield River,
which was reached at dusk. Mr. F. Hislop and myself then
walked up to Wyalla, over the wet, slippery roads, as heavy rain
had fallen a short time previously. It got very dark long before
we got to our destination, and my companion deserved great
credit for the way he successfully found his way along the
small bush track, when for some distance we had to feel our
way, the darkness being so intense.

A few days after we went down to the sea coast, about six
miles away, to the mouth of a small stream. We got into a boat
some two miles up the river and pulled down to the bar. The
banks were mostly lined with a dense fringe of mangroves,
amongst which were noticed White Ibis, Threskiornis strictipennis,
Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticorax Caledonicus, and one specimen
of the Little Mangrove Bittern, Butoroides Javanica. This
stream was tidal for some distance up, and was the haunt of the
crocodile, Crocodilus piorosus, and these reptiles have on the
bank, close to the water's edge, their favourite camping ground, a
clear space where they lie sunning themselves ; but they are very
quick in hearing any unusual sound, and at once slide off into
the water, consequently they are difficult to get a shot at or even
to see, as where they lie has scrub each side of it, and therefore
cannot be easily seen until close to. Mr. F. Hislop shot one
shortly before my arrival. He landed some distance above a
well-known resting ground, and with care managed to get a shot
at its occupant with his rifle. On its carcase being measured,
it was found to be exactly n ft. long. Round about its lair
were the remains of pigs, showing that they were its favourite
food, and as these animals were numerous it evidently did not
suffer from hunger. I visited a swamp close to the sea shore,
and found that the pigs had been systematically through the
greater portion of it, rooting it up for the sake of the roots of
the rushes with which it was originally covered. In wading
about with bare feet in the mud and water, I accidentally trod on
a green water snake, but it being quickly released disappeared in
the muddy water. A few birds were seen, such as Native Com-
panions, Grus Australasianus, Black Duck, Anas superciliosa,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 25

White Ibis, White-fronted Herons, Ardea Novce-IIollandice,
Egrets, Herodias melanopus, Red-necked Avocets, and a flock of
Barred-shouldered Doves were noticed feeding over the swampy
ground. Some old nests of the herons were observed in the
trees on the edge of the swamp, but no fresh ones. On this
particular shore a great quantity of driftwood has been cast up
by the sea, far more than I have noticed elsewhere. There were
a few shells. On returning up the river plenty of fish were seen,
some of the mullet being very large, and occasionally when
passing over a shallow sand bar a Stinging Ray would glide away
over the sand. Our black boy was on the look-out for them, but
did not succeed in spearing any ; he was also bringing back with
him a cooked White Ibis, to eat when sufficiently hungry.
Bright metallic green blow-flies were plentiful, but their larvae
were deposited in egg form, fortunately, and it was some little
time before they commenced to crawl about. When the natives'
food gets fly-blown they put it on the fire to destroy the larvse.
Small black mosquitos were troublesome, and a flock of Shining
Calornis were observed feeding among the mangroves. We looked
out for crocodiles, but none were seen.

Next day I went over to Toolgoor, about four miles, to see Mr.
Cochrane. A black boy went with me as a guide. It was an
interesting walk, being partly through scrub. One very large
mcund of a Megapode was passed and photographed. It was
about 9 ft. high and 20 ft. in diameter at the base. An
Allied Fruit Pigeon was noticed building its frail nest near the
end of a thin branch. There being practically no wind in the
scrub, pigeons can build their nests on thinner boughs than they
can in the open. The Victoria Rifle Bird was heard on several
occasions as we passed by their favourite resting place. Over-
hanging a stream two pairs of Large-billed Gerygones, Gerygone
magniroslris, had built their nests together, and both nests had
eggs in. On passing through a group of Fan Palms we noticed
thai all the young ones up to the height of 8 ft. had been
destroyed by pigs for the sake of the pith they got inside, the
outside wood of the larger trees being too t ;ugh for the animals
to break through. Arriving at Toolgoor I was shown the nest of
a Sun Bird, Cinnyris frenata, that had two entrances. After the
nest had been built, if I remember rightly in an open shed, the
cord the nest was built on got turned somehow, and the opening
faced the paling fence close to it. As the birds could not get a
view of anything that might be approaching them, and being
unable to turn the nest back, they set to work and made another
opening on the opposite side, out of which the hen bird could
put her head when sitting. Another pair of these birds, after
hatching and rearing one brood, built another nest in the back
verandah, but being frightened away from there they built again

26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

in a neighbouring shed, fastening their nest on to the end of a
piece of string that was hanging down. A pair of Australian
Goshawks, Astur approximans, had built their nest close to the
house in a tall eucalyptus tree, and Mr. Cochrane informed me
that, on the eggs being taken, they built a new nest, and had laid
three more eggs within fourteen days. The second clutch was not
disturbed. There were some nicely grown Cocoanut Palms in the
garden, and they were bearing well. Mr. Cochrane complained
that the Carpet Snakes were often troublesome, and that all his
guinea fowls had been taken by them. The birds roosted in a
tree close to the house, but the Carpet Snakes used occasionally
to climb up the tree at night, catch one of the birds, and that then
the snake dropped to the ground with its prey. Several of his
fowls and turkeys had -also been taken. We paid a visit to the
big tree in the scrub on which a large colony of Shining Calornis
were nesting, and on picking up a fresh nest that had fallen I
found an almost fully-fledged blue-black young one in it. The
ground was covered with the seeds of nutmegs which the birds
had brought, and some of them still had their bright scarlet
covering of mace on. In the same tree a flock of Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos roosted, and plenty of their white feathers were lying
about the ground. Occasionally when passing underneath a tree
in the scrub numbers of small twigs with the leaves on were
noticed lying on the ground, and I was informed that they were
broken off by the white cockatoos. These birds are, as a rule,
very silent when feeding, although a flock of them may be to-
gether. In the creek a Brown Water Snake was seen, and on the
branch of an old dead tree above a Plotus Bird was resting. A
Banks's Cockatoo, Calyptorliynchus Banksii, had its nest near
by, with a nearly fully-fledged young one in it. The parent birds
left their fledgling in the morning, and did not return to it until
the evening. As the tree in which the nest was was close to the
house, Mr. Cochrane was enabled to keep the bird under his
observation, and observed the fact stated. The birds, apparently,
only lay one egg, as in the four nests that I have heard of such
was the case. Mr. Hislop knew of another nest, and was waiting
until the young bird was old enough to take, but the natives,
forestalling him, took the young bird and ate it. A large flock of
Spine-tailed Swifts were noticed circling above the trees, and
occasionally coming low down. It is wonderful the power these
birds have on the wing, and I have never yet seen one resting
during the day.

We returned to Wyalla the same evening. Next day two
native women had a difference of opinion and went at it with
sticks, hands, and tongue, like two cats, much to the detriment of
one of the combatants' dresses. They were soon separated, but
took some time to quiet down. When fighting they never seem

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27

to try to avoid one another's blows. One old black lady had
toothache, consequently she went into mourning for it, which
consisted in rubbing her face over with white ashes, which made
her look anything but beautiful. I had to take her picture with-
out her knowing it. There was a curious old black woman here
named Courangie. She was old, small in stature, with crooked
legs, and it seemed a wonder how such frail, crooked legs could
hold her body up without breaking. She was much looked up to
by the natives of her camp, as she was a ventriloquist, and Mr.
R. Hislop told me that one evening when he was at the blacks'
camp, he noticed this old party quietly leave the camp unnoticed
by the other blacks and make her way to a patch of scrub and
sit down behind a thick bush. Mr. Hislop had to alter his
position a little so as to be able to watch her. After a time she
was missed by the natives, as they sat talking round their camp
fires. They looked round for her, and not finding her, some of
them suggested that the spirits had taken her. The gins and
others, being apparently frightened, crowded into the centre of the
camp. Then one of the old men called out in a loud voice,
"Where are you, Courangie?" Her voice replied, from apparently
up in the air toward the north, "The spirits are carrying me away
in the air." The natives were now thoroughly frightened, and an
old man going to the outskirts of the camp, then called out,
" Spirits of ancestors, do not take her away altogether; Courangie,
hullo." After a few seconds her voice replied "Ho" (which
means here), and it appeared to come from high up in the air,
about a mile to the north. The old man kept calling out at short
intervals, for about an hour, and the voice always answered him
from various points in the distance. At first it sounded a long
way off, but gradually drew closer and closer, until at last it
sounded just a little way beyond the patch of scrub where she
was, and almost immediately afterwards the old woman emerged
from the bush behind which she had been hidden. As she
advanced she was clawing at the air with both hands, and when
she got to the camp commenced clawing the men and boys. After
a time they got her to sit down, and questioned her as to where
she had been and what she had seen, but her only reply was some
incoherent words, and still occasionally clawing at the air. The
old men then commenced to warm their hands at the fire and to
rub her head. After a few minutes of this performance she stood
up and related her experiences, saying that the spirit of a grand-
father had taken her away up in the air to a place where a great
many spirits were assembled at a cannibal feast. She recognized
the spirits of many of her departed relatives and friends, and
received their welcome. A fight then arose among the spirits
that were strangers to her, wanting to kill and eat her ; her friends,
objecting, defended her. While they were fighting over the

28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

matter some friendly spirits caught her up and carried her off,
and at her wish took her round the district to see the spirits of
other departed relatives. These recounted to her some of her
misdeeds and those of their enemies, and of the dreadful means
by which they had accomplished, or intended to accomplish, their
evil designs upon her and their friends, such as the mysterious
neck-twisting, &c. She mentioned many of the places she had
been to, some of them thirty or forty miles away. While on her
journey she heard the old man calling her from the camp and
answered him. Next day Mr. Hislop tried to show the blacks
how they had been deceived by the old lady, and explained how
it was done, but Courangie stuck to her story, and the natives
repudiated the idea of their having been duped, and reiterated
their belief in the reality of her communication with the spirit
world. She strongly objected to her photo, being taken, and
quickly disappeared if she saw me with my camera, so I had to
take a snapshot of her as opportunity offered, unknown to her.

When in the open forest country several nests of the Superb
Fruit Pigeon, Ptilinopus superbus, were found. Their nests were
always situated in some thick-leaved tree. They were built near
the ends of the branches, nearly hidden in the foliage. In every
case it was the male bird that was sitting on the nest. Not far
from the Bloomfield River a White-headed Asprey, Pandion
lecuocephahts, had built its bulky nest, near the top of a tall
eucalyptus tree and difficult to get at ; on another tree a Brown
Hawk had laid its three eggs on a large bunch of ferns, not
making any nest, properly speaking. The season being dry, there
was very little water in any of the creeks, and when sitting down
by a waterhole in the scrub we used to watch the numerous birds
that came to drink or to bathe, such as White headed, Allied and
other pigeons, honey- eaters, and various other small birds. We
never saw a pigeon take a bath, but many of the other birds
did, especially honey- eaters. All the ground and dry creeks
in the scrub are covered with dead leaves, and tons weight must
be washed down to the sea every wet season. After rain trees
and branches fall more frequently than at other times, and at
night when the ground is wet phosphorescence in the soil is often
very bright, especially when the earth is disturbed. Fire Flies
were often seen here, as well as on the higher land, but only in
the scrub.

The Torres Strait Pigeons fly very high going and returning
from the islands, and during rain they often leave the scrub and
settle on the big trees near its edge. Many of the beetles have
the habit, when disturbed, of dropping off the leaf they may be on
and then remaining apparently lifeless on the ground. They are
difficult to find among the grass ; at night many of the larger
kinds buzz past with great speed and considerable noise. Oc-

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29

casionally in the scrub a large yellow cobweb is noticed, which
belongs to a big black spider, Hephila fuscipes, with a few yellow
markings on it. The web is very strong and sticky, and lizards
have been known to have been caught and held by them. I
should think that a small bird flying into the web would be easily
held. The spider itself is sluggish. Pheasant Coucals, Centropus
phasianus, were very plentiful, their loud call being often heard.
A nest was obtained last year by Mr. Hislop on a thick bunch of
ferns growing on a small eucalyptus tree, and occasionally they
nest on Pandanus Palms, but, as is well known, they generally
build in the long grass on the ground.

I now left on a visit to King Plains, accompanied by Mr. R.
Hislop. A packhorse led by a black boy carried our luggage and
we walked. The first day's journey was up Stuckey's Gap and
along the road towards Cooktown, much of which was through
scrub. When passing through some open forest country, an Allied
Fruit Pigeon, Ptilinopus assimilis, was seen silting on its nest in
a Eucalyptus, which contained a young one, an apparently
unusual place lor these birds to build, as so far I had only found
them nesting in the scrub. An Iguana, Varanus varius, which
had lately been killed by some travellers in front of us, was found
on our track, and our native, carefully wrapping it up in a wisp of
dry grass, carried it on for his supper. Passing over a low range
covered with stunted timber, a good many Banded Honey-eaters
were seen. Our first day's tramp was about twenty miles, and we
stayed at a friend's house for the night. In a Mango tree heavily
laden with fruit, alongside the verandah, a pair of Yellow Honey-
eaters, Ptilotis fiava , had built their nest, which contained young
ones. These birds were locally known as the Canary, and they
had a very cheerful note. Dollar Birds, Eurystomus pacificus,
too were plentiful, with their curious notes, and they were, as
usual, very restless and erratic in their movements.

Next day we had another walk of nearly thirty miles before
reaching Mr. Gibson's homestead, our destination. On the way
we passed numbers of dead cattle, which had died from tick
fever. They were mostly near water. Those affected seem to
lose all power over their hind-quarters first, and if they attempt to
run often fall down. As the season was dry, feed was not plenti-
ful. Many of the cattle were consequently very poor in condition.
Those we passed by that were down and almost dead had
thousands of ticks on them, which caused the fever. The females
when full grown were about the size of a large pea, but the males
are very small. The ticks do not perforate the hide, only leaving
a very small contused looking wound where they had fastened on.
They do not seem to attack human beings, fortunately. In
walking through the long kangaroo and other grass, our trousers
simply got covered with young and very minute ticks, smaller than

30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

any ordinary pin's head. They crawl up on the stems of the long
grass and seem to remain there, catching on anything that may
go past. That is one reason why so much of the country has
been burnt in this district, so as to kill the innumerable number
of ticks on the grass. They were apparently very patchy, as in
some places the grass had none on, whereas in other places it was
just the reverse. It was a sad sight seeing so many fine beasts
lying dead, and two days a week were occupied by those in charge
pulling dead beasts away from the waterholes. Those within a
certain distance of the house were burnt ; the others not. Dingos
and wild pigs seemed often to feed on the carcases. It is difficult
to realize what damage the ticks have caused in these districts,
thousands of dairy and other cattle having died from it, and
those dairy cattle that have survived are often no good for
milking. On several occasions I saw milking cows brought into
the yard, and used to watch the fowls picking the larger ticks
off them, jumping up to get those otherwise out of reach, the
cattle offering no objection.

On passing by a swamp a pair of Masked Plovers, Lobivanellus
pei'sonatus, were flying about much alarmed, and on looking
about three of their little young ones were found, newly hatched.
At the edge of one long swamp, about a mile in length, thousands
of Whistling Ducks, Dendrocygna vagans, were seen, as well as
many Magpie Geese, Anseranas melanoleuca, Plotus Birds, Plotus
JVovce-Hollandue, Native Companions, White-fronted Herons,
Pacific Herons, White, Straw-necked, and Glossy Ibis, Cormorants,
White Egrets, &c. It was a wonderful sight to see so much
bird life on the various waterholes. Being the dry season the water
was not deep, and many of the swamps were much curtailed in
size or dried up altogether, and we walked for about two miles
over a hard, dried-up swamp, which was very rough and tiring to
walk over. The rushes and other vegetation were, of course, all
dead. We reached our destination towards evening after a tiring
walk. Next day was spent in riding over the run. Near the
homestead Square-tailed Kites, Lophoictinia isnra, were
numerous. They were very sluggish in their movements.
Whistling Eagles, Haliastur sphenurus, too, were seen, and one
of their nests found. The little Peaceful Doves were everywhere
plentiful, feeding on the ground. We were shown the bower of
the Larger Bower Bird, Chlamydodera orientalis. It was a large
structure, being 3 ft. through the passage. It was built under
a thick, overhanging bush. A good-sized heap of small bones
of various animals were placed at each end of it. The birds
themselves were shy and only one seen. Two snakes, Dipsas
Jusca, were passed, resting on the stems of small trees, about
5 ft. from the ground. They remained perfectly still when
approached, and were difficult to catch sight of. I saw an

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 31

Iguana up a smooth-barked eucalyptus tree, and it was just
about to look into a hole in the trunk of the tree when a
Laughing Jackass, Dacelo gigas, darted out of the hole with a loud
cry and knocked the big lizard off its precarious perch on to the
ground. Five Grey Kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, were seen,
and two Pretty Face or Whip-tailed Kangaroos, Macropus Parryi.
The latter darted away at great pace through the long grass. In
an old Pied Grallina's nest a White-vented Wood Swallow had
built its own nest and was rearing its young brood. Magpies,
6 t/mnorhina libicen, were very scarce. Two nests of the Pied
Butcher Bird, Cracticus picatus, were found, one with eggs and
the other with young. There seems to be very little difference
between the markings of these birds and the black-throated
variety, but their note is very dissimilar, that of the former being
a single clear whistle. In the creeks fish were plentiful. I was
informed that those caught during the dry season were infested
with intestinal worms, while in the wet season they were free from
them.

We left next day on our return to Wyalla, and camped during
the middle of the day beside a large lagoon or lake. Its average
depth during the dry season was 5 ft. We waded through it
looking for nests of the Comb-crested Parra, Parra gallinacea,
but none were found. As the water was full of weeds, water
lilies, and rushes, we had difficulty in getting along, and came out
scratched all over with the prickly stems of some of the water
lilies. The rushes were in places very thick and strong, and at one
end of the swamp Lotus Lilies grew luxuriantly with their beautiful
scarlet flowers. The water was too deep, fortunately, for the pigs
to root it out, which otherwise they would have done. The
surface of the more open water was covered more or less with
either White or Blue Water Lilies, and the effect was very pretty.
Birds were very numerous, including Pigmy Geese, Pelicans, the
three kinds of Ibis, White Egrets, Magpie Geese, Ducks, Plotus
Birds, &c, &c, and on the banks Masked Plovers and Allied
Dottrels were seen. A Papuan Podargus was found sitting on its
nest, which contained one egg, and on dissection the bird proved
to be the male. The female was roosting in a neighbouring tree,
and was not disturbed by the firing of the gun. We found three
nests of the Podargus altogether, built on the horizontal branches
of the eucalyptus trees in the open forest, and on each it was the
male bird that was sitting. Two of the nests had eggs, and one
young. In a steep bank several bark nests at the end of the
burrows of the Black-headed Pardalote were found, but not quite
ready for eggs. The hole was 12 in. long, with a cavity
at the end. The Exile Grass Warbler had its beautifully-con-
structed nest built in a small shrub about 6 in. from the
ground. The nest is built of fluff which occurs in the flat weed

32 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

when the seeds are ripe, and then the large green leaves of the
plant on which the nest is built are sewn together round the nest,
the thread being made of cobweb. A Crested Hawk, Baza
subcristata, was seen, and I have been informed that these birds
kill small snakes. A friend also informed me that he had
watched Kestrel Hawks feeding their young on small snakes.
Dingo tracks were seen on the dusty path, and once two pigs and
seven young ones ran away from a dead beast, on which they had
been feeding, at our approach, and a Whistling Eagle flew heavily
away also. It had evidently been having a meal too.

In a small tree in the open country, and exposed to the hot sun,
we were surprised to see two opossums, Phalangista vuljnna.
It was in the middle of the day, and no large trees were near
them, only saplings. Our native shot one for his supper, but the
other was not disturbed. More than half the trees we passed
had a stream of little black ants going up and down them.
These insects were exceedingly numerous. Many nests of the
Temporal Pomatorhinus were seen, and in one the nest of the
White-quilled Honey-eater, and also those of Leach's Kingfishers
in the hollow branches. The curious loud noise these birds
make is very similar to that of the Channel Bill Cuckoo. King
Parrots seem to remain mostly in the scrub during the day, and
in the open country in the early morning and evening. We shot
one Fan-tailed Cuckoo and one Brush Cuckoo, Cacomantis in-
speratus, and saw one Channel Bill, Scythrops Novce-Hol-
landice. One egg of the Freshwater Tortoise was picked up
lying on the ground, and several of their skeletons at the edge
of the swamp.

On the second day, when passing through some thin scrub
across a creek, some pigs were seen, and one of my companions
determined to try and shoot one of the young ones, which, after
a little stalking, he managed to, but it was too weighty to bring
along, so we informed two miners living near the road of our
good fortune, and told them they could have it. They with
delight at once went to fetch the dead pig in. Next day, when
back at Wyalla, a farmer came along, and we were telling him of
our prowess in shooting this, as we thought, wild pig. He then
questioned us as to the size and number of them, and on our
answering he said, " Bother you, you have shot one of my tame
pigs, which I had let out the day before for a run." We said
nothing more about the pig after that. After one day's rest I
started off, accompanied by Mr. F. Hislop and two natives, to
Mt. Finlayson, a mountain not far from Wyalla, about 4,000 ft.
high. We left in the afternoon, arriving at our camping ground
at dusk. Remembering, from former experience, how numerous
the so-called soldier ants were, I slept in my hammock.

Early next morning a start up the scrub-covered mountain was

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 33

made, but heavy rain came on, and we were soon soaked
through and the scrub dripping. Near the foot of the range, but
still about 800 ft. above sea level, we found several nests of the
Ashy-fronted Flycatcher, Heteromyas cinereijrons. The bird
itself was shy, and on only one occasion did we see one leave
her nest, when she was promptly secured. The nests were pretty
structures, and all those found were built in young Lawyer Palms,
either on or near the crown ; only one fresh egg was found in
each nest. The birds seemed to choose the thickest patches of
undergrowth to build in, and when disturbed darted away among
the low bushes, and we did not see one fly into the trees above ;
they are. in consequence difficult to catch sight of. I have
watched a pair hunting about for their insect food on the ground
among the dead leaves, and at first thought they were robins of
some kind. The habits of the bird, its nest and eggs all agree
far more closely with robins than with flycatchers, and I do not
know why they should have been called by the latter name. As
we got higher up the range the Tooth-billed Bower Bird was
heard, and we soon found some of their play-grounds. These
birds are very good at mimicking, and it was interesting listening
to them imitating the various notes of other birds, even to the
Coachwhip. The beautiful clear note of the Brown Thrush,
Collyriocincla brunnea, was often heard, and also that of Quoy's
Crow-Shrike. The Rufous Crow-Shrike, Cracticus rvfescens, is
found in the open country, and has a different note. We found
a Tallegalla's mound which contained twelve eggs. Leechesw ere
numerous and troublesome; we got one curious striped earth-
worm at the height of 2,000 ft. In a creek we crossed over
the natives saw a large eel, but lost it under a thick fringe of
roots of a tree ; after an interesting but wet ramble we got back
to the camp to lunch, which consisted of Tallegalla's eggs. The
blacks do not mind how big the chickens may be inside the egg,
it is all eaten. After drying our clothes by the fire we started off
back to Wyalla, which we reached at sundown.

Next day, 25th November, I started on my return, and bidding
adieu to my kind host, Mr. G. Hislop, and his family, went to the
Bloomfield River over night, starting a little after daylight in a
cutter for Cooktown, a distance ot 30 miles. We had a favour-
able breeze and reached that town about three o'clock. The
next day was spent in looking through Mr. E. A. C. Olive's varied
and well-prepared specimens of birds' skins, butterflies, beetles,
&c, and fastened up to the wall of his room was the stuffed skin
of a Carpet Snake, Morelia variegata, which he had lately shot ;
its length when alive was 16 ft. The reason he killed it
instead of catching it alive was because the reptile when found
was high up a tree, alongside a large hornets' nest, and the black
boy who did the climbing objected to being in close quarters to

34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

these vicious insects, consequently the snake was shot. These
reptiles have the habit of climbing under the eaves of the roof,
catching rats if there are any, but if not, taking pigeons, poultry,
&c. In a tree not far from the house was found the nest and
fresh egg of the Larger Bower Bird, C. orientalis. These birds
seem to lay one egg more often than two for a clutch.

Early next morning, at 3 a.m., I left in the s.s. Aramac for
Melbourne.

The following marine shells were collected on the Hope
Islands, and have been identified by Mr. J. Kershaw, of the
National Museum, Melbourne : — Obeliscus maculosus, Lam. ;
Strombus variabilis, Sow. ; S. gibberulus, Lin. ; S. elegans, P.
(small white var.) ; S. urcues, Lin. (young, light var.) ; Ricinula
fiscellum, Chemn. ; Cerithhim variegatum, Quoy ; C. op. (broken) ;
Nerita albicilla, Lin. ; JV. histrio, Lin. (waterworn) ; Nassa ther-
sites ; Nassa coronata, Brug. ; Pleurotoma carinata, Gray ; Turbo
Japonicus ; Trochus noduliferus, Lamk. ; Stomatia (sp.) ; Bulla
ampulla ; Sigaretus (sp ) ; Vertagus (sp., young).

The White-faced Xerophila. — The following facts with
reference to the nesting of the White-faced Xerophila, Xerophila
leucopsis, Gould, seem to me to be worthy of record. For years
past several pairs have, along with the common sparrow, occupied
portions of the verandah, &c, of a wayside inn at Lake Boga,
Swan Hill district. The nest is loosely constructed, rather
smaller than that of the sparrow, and generally contains four or
five eggs at a sitting, several broods being reared in the season.
The birds are generally considered insectivorous, but here they
seem quite partial to crumbs and refuse from the house, as well
as to the company of man, for one nest was built within a few
feet of the business door of the establishment. Had the birds
been living among the timber in their natural way dried grass
would have been chosen for the nesting material, but in the case
under notice a great variety of material was brought together,
such as portions of lace veils, wool, cloth, string, grass, and
feathers, which often lie about the doors of country houses.
Perhaps the most peculiar action of these birds was the choice,
last September, by a pair of them, of the end of a loosely rolled
up curtain of a waggonette in which to build their nest. The
vehicle had not been used for some weeks, but before they could
have sat long upon the eggs the waggonette was used for a
couple of short journeys on alternate days without the birds
being noticed or disturbed. However, five days after, the trap
was sent a journey of twenty-two miles, and on its return the
curtain was lowered, when, to the surprise of the owner, down fell
a nest with five eggs, far incubated, as they contained living chicks.
— Robert Hall.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35

The Hooded Robin. — In a short paper on the plumage of
robins (Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii., p. 116) I mentioned, on
the authority of Mr. J. A. Hill, that the Hooded Robin, Petroeca
bicolor,V. and H., rears its first family while in immature plumage.
That observer has now furnished me with further details of the
nesting, together with the skin of the male bird, which was
engaged in paternal attentions during nesting. In this the pro-
nounced black markings of the adult are represented by grey in
the young bird, except the interscapulum, which has two longi-
tudinal blotchings of black, the upper tail coverts darker than the
grey, but not an intense black, and the scapulars an indefinite
white, broadly tipped with grey instead of the strong white of
fuller age. All the remaining indistinct whites will doubtless
disappear with the next moult, except the under tail coverts,
which are already as strong as in the aged birds. The nest was
first observed on the 17th September, 1896, and in construction
and material did not appear to differ from the usual one of the
species. The first egg was deposited between the 22nd and 23rd
of September, and a second between the 23rd and 24th of the
same month, when the female bird immediately began to sit.
These two eggs, typical in every respect, constituted the clutch,
and they hatched out on the 10th of October. Thus sixteen to
seventeen days were occupied in incubation. The female on
each visit was found to be sitting, and on no occasion during the
frequent journeys to the nest was the male observed upon the
eggs. Thus we are led to believe that the female bird takes upon
herself the task of sitting throughout the period. The female,
naturally a shy bird, did not show any inclination to leave the
eggs when approached, and only when within a foot of her nest
would she temporarily leave. The young birds were able to fly
in about fourteen days from the time of hatching, but the exact
day was not observed. — Robert Hall.

Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales. — The second part
of Mr. A. J. North's " List of the Insectivorous Birds of New South
Wales " has recently been issued. Forty species of birds are
referred to, commencing with the Superb Warbler (Malurus
ci/aneus), Ellis, and extending to the Reed Warbler (Acrocephahis
Australis), Gould. This part contains four plates, eight species
being represented thereon in their natural colours.

The Naturalists' Directory. — The edition of this work for
1897 is to hand, and contains a considerable amount of informa-
tion useful to collectors and those desirous of opening up corre-
spondence with collectors in other parts of the world. Lists are
included of natural history societies, field clubs, magazines and
books issued during 1896. Addresses, &c, for insertion in the
next issue should be forwarded to the editor, at 170 Strand,
London, by 1st of December next.

36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

The Vegetation of Australasia. — The first of a series of
articles which will doubtless be of interest to our lovers of plant
life appeared in Knowledge for March last. It is entitled " On
the Vegetation and Some of the Vegetable Productions of
Australasia," and is from the pen of Mr. W. Botting Hemsley,
F.R.S., F.L.S. The writer proposes to make comparisons
between our Australian vegetation and that of other parts of the
world. About nine thousand species of flowering plants and
ferns have been published for Australia, while Europe possesses
about nine thousand five hundred, and the British islands one
thousand five hundred. Australia is remarkable for the large
number of species of trees and shrubs ; for the large number of
species of one and the same genus ; for the large number of trees
and shrubs having brilliantly-coloured flowers and woody seed-
vessels, associated with hard grey-green or blue-green foliage ;
for the large number of species peculiar to the country ; and for
the very large number of very local species. One of the earliest
references to Australian plants is in Dampier's " Voyage to New
Holland in 1699," where a few of the plants noticed by that
navigator on the north-west coast of Australia are figured. He
landed on a small island not far from the present town of Cossack,
of which he writes as follows: — "There grow here two or three
sorts of shrubs, one just like Rosemary ; and therefore I called
this Rosemary Island. It grew in great plenty here, but had no
smell. Some of the other shrubs had blue and yellow flowers,
and we found two sorts of grain-like beans. The one grew
on bushes ; the other on a sort of creeping vine that runs
along on the ground, having a blossom like a bean blossom,
but much larger, and of a deep red colour, looking very
beautiful." The first of these plants is now known as Aster
axillaris, F. v. M., and is common all round the western and
southern coasts, and extends to Tasmania. The second is the
well-known Sturt's Desert Pea, Clianthus Dampieri, Cunning.
Dried specimens of some of the plants which struck him by their
peculiarities were taken to England by Dampier, and are still in
existence at Oxford and in the British Museum. He also caused
drawings to be made of a number of plants, birds, and animals,
which were engraved and published in 1703 in the volume
previously referred to. It is somewhat singular that one of our
most brilliantly-coloured flowers, the only species of the genus in
Australia, should have been the first to be brought under the
notice of English botanists. Its cultivation as a garden plant is
often attempted, but seldom with any great success. Another
species of the genus, C. puniceus, is a native of New Zealand, and
is of shrubby growth, and does well in cultivation ; its flowers,
however, are not so brilliant as its Australian congener.

THE

|) 1 1 1 o v i a u |l a t u v a H 6 1<

Vol. XIV.-No. 3. JULY 8, 1897. No. 163.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The seventeenth annual meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th June, 1897. The
president, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the
chair, and some sixty members and visitors were present.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. G. A. Keartland back to the
Club, after an absence of 12 months with the Calvert Exploring
Expedition in North-west Australia. Mr. Keartland made a few
interesting remarks on the trip, and pointed out on the map the
route taken by the expedition.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Keilor on Queen's Birthday was
read by the leader, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., who stated that the
party had a very successful outing, many interesting geological
specimens being collected.

Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather for dredging
on Queen's Birthday, the excursion did not take place.

The hon. secretary reported that a practical meeting had been
held on Monday evening, 17th May, when Mr. R. S. Sugars, in
the absence of Mr. J. Shephard, gave a demonstration on the
" Anatomy of a Land Planarian," which was much appreciated by
those present.

Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., reported, with reference to the memorial
to the late Baron von Mueller, that the sub-committee appointed
by the delegates of the various societies to draw up a scheme is
awaiting the return of the Premier from England in order to
ascertain what the intentions of the Government are regarding
the matter.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The hon. secretary, Mr. C. French, jun., read the seventeenth
annual report, 1896-97, which was as follows : —

" To the Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.
Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your Committee have much pleasure in
presenting for your consideration the report of the seventeenth
year of the Club's work, being for the period ending 30th April,
1897.

" It is gratifying to be able to say that the interest in the Club

38 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

has been fully maintained during the past year, and that the
monthly meetings have been quite up to the standard of former
years.

" The membership of the Club remains numerically about the
same. Thirteen ladies and gentlemen were elected members
during the year. Several members have retired for various
reasons, and we unfortunately had losses by death, so that our
roll now contains 128 names, in addition to which there are 11
honorary members.

" The most serious loss the Club has sustained since its
inception fell upon it during the year, when its valued patron,
Baron Sir F. von Mueller, passed away in the midst of his labours ;
and your Committee feel that, notwithstanding all that has been
said and written with reference to the late Baron, they cannot
refrain from making further acknowledgment of the many and
valued services which he rendered to the Club during the sixteen
and a half years of his connection with it as member and patron.
Death also removed one of our honorary members, in the person
of Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, lately resident in England, but well
known to many of the older members as an enthusiastic lover of
nature's handiwork.

"For the first time in the history of the Club a monthly
meeting was allowed to lapse, the October meeting being
cancelled as a mark of respect to the late Baron von Mueller.

" Twenty-one papers were read at the monthly meetings, ten
of which related to Zoology, three to Botany, three to Geology,
and five were descriptive of trips and general collecting. The
authors of papers were Messrs. C. C. Brittlebank, W. Fielder,
C. French, jun., J. Gabriel, R. Hall, H. R. Hogg, G. A. Keart-
land, A. E. Kitson, D. Le Souef, G. E. Shepherd, H. T. Tisdall,
and Col. Legge (hon. member). Communicated papers were
forwarded by Messrs. A. J. Campbell, F. Reader, and J. H.
Wright. In addition to these Messrs. T. S. Hall, M.A., and
O. A. Sayce gave accounts of recent science work in their
respective departments. Notes for reading and publication in
the Naturalist were furnished by Baron Von Mueller, Messrs.
A. W. Howitt (hon. member), Bullen, Goudie, Hill, Kershaw,
and M'Alpine. The Club is to be congratulated on the
interesting nature of the papers brought before it, many of which
must have entailed a considerable amount of observation in
order to enable the facts to be recorded.

"Another volume (the 13th) of the Naturalist has been com-
pleted and duly forwarded to the members, also to a large
number of scientific societies both in the Australian colonies and
other parts of the world. Your Committee is deeply indebted to
Professor Spencer, Messrs. Ashworth, Campbell, Fielder, Gabriel,
Le Souef, and Shephard for the plates with which their articles

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39

were illustrated, as by such means the value of the Club's
journal is much enhanced. It is to be regretted that, owing to
the want of space, only three parts of Mr. Oswald B. Lower's
"Catalogue of the Victorian Moths" were published during the
year ; however, the editor hopes that the concluding parts will be
published early in the next volume, after which it is proposed
to commence a catalogue of the Victorian shells, the list
published in vols. iv. and v, having become somewhat out
of date. The thanks of the Club are once more due to Mr.
F. G. A. Barnard for the care he has exercised in carrying out
his duties as editor of the Club's journal.

" The field excursions, which should be a prominent feature
of the Club's work, have not been so well attended as your Com-
mittee would wish ; however, some very enjoyable and instructive
outings have been held, and the thanks of the Club are due to
those gentlemen who placed their services as leaders at the
Committee's disposal. It has been suggested that an outdoor
meeting of the members, to take the form more of a social
picnic, should be held at some convenient collecting ground near
Melbourne during the coming spring, and we trust that our
successors will be able to carry the suggestion to a successful
issue.

" During the year three meetings for practical work were held,
which were well attended. The matters dealt with were : — By
Mr. J. Shephard, on " Botanical Section Cutting and Staining ; "
by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., on " Identification of Some Common
Rocks ; " by Mr. W. Stickland, on " Desmids : their Study and
Classification."

" In September last an exhibition of wild flowers was held,
when there was a good display of our indigenous plants in bloom.
The success of the exhibition was mainly due to the exertions of
the late Baron von Mueller, one of whose lasts acts was to secure
promises of exhibits from his friends in distant parts of the
colony.

" In November last Messrs. French and Frost were appointed
to attend, on behalf of your Club, a meeting of representatives of
scientific and other societies, called to consider the manner in
which the distinguished services to science of the late Baron von
Mueller could best be acknowledged and perpetuated. The
decision of this Committee (the active work of which has been
undertaken by the officers of the Royal Geographical Society,
Victorian Branch) is anxiously awaited. It is to be hoped that
some definite action will speedly be taken, as there can be no
doubt but that any such movement will meet with the cordial
support of all workers in science in the various Australian
societies.

" The hon. librarian reports that good use has been made of

40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

the Club's library during the year. In addition to the usual
periodicals purchased, about ioo volumes and parts of pro-
ceedings, &c, have been received as donations from scientific
societies, &c. Among these may be mentioned the report of the
Horn Exploring Expedition from Mr. W. A. Horn, and five
volumes of Natural Science from Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. It has
been decided to add Natural Science to the list of periodicals to
be taken by the Club during the coming year, but want of funds
has prevented several much-needed text-books being purchased
for the use of members.

"The financial statement to be presented by your hon.
treasurer shows that the receipts of the past year, including the
balance brought forward, amounted to ^140 15s. iod., and the
expenditure to jQi$2, 3s. iod., leaving a credit balance of ^7
12s. A liability of ^24 8s. exists on account of printing, but
this is more than covered by arrears of subscriptions which are
considered good. A sum of ^53 2s. 8d. is still ' locked up '
in the Metropolitan Bank. The Committee would urge the
early payment of all subscriptions, and thus enable their suc-
cessors to meet the liability mentioned, and devote something
towards the purchase of text-books for the library.

" In conclusion, your Committee would once more urge all who
have the interests of the Club at heart to do their utmost to
extend its sphere of work, both by the introduction of new
members and by doing something to interest and instruct their
fellow-members.

"Signed, on behalf of the Committee,

" W. Baldwin Spencer, Chairman.
" C. French, jun., Hon. Secretary.

"14th June, 1897."

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., read the financial
statement for 1896-97, which was as follows : —

Receipts.

To Balance, 30th April, 1896 ... ... ... £6 210

,, Subscriptions ... ... £ 105 17 o

,, Victorian Naturalist —

Subscriptions ... £4 10 6

Sales, &c. ... 266

Advertisements ... 4 10 o

,, Conversazione, May, 1896 —

Donation ... £l 00

Admissions ... 16 9 o

17 9

134 13 o
^"140 15 IO

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

41

Ex

'ENDITURE

By Victorian Naturalist —

Printing

^67 I

0

Reprints

I 14

0

Illustrations

4 9

6

£73

4

6

,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance...

• 13

I

0

,, Library — Periodicals and Binding

. 8

I

0

,, Postages, Advertising, &c.

• 15

2

8

,, Collector's Commission

. 2

7

2

,, Printing and Stationery

• 4

1

6

,, Funeral Wreath

2

0

0

,, Conversazione, May, 1896-

—Expenses

15

6

0
^133

3

IO

,, Balance

7

12

O

£140

CS

IO

C. FROST, Hon. Treasure?:
i8tk May, 1897.

Audited and found correct.

J. T. GILLESPIE, \ . r.
ROBT. HALL, }<*«a*on

2lst A/ay, 1897.

On the motion of Mr. D. Le Souef, seconded by Mr. H. T.
Tisdall, the report and balance-sheet were received and adopted.

OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1 897-98.

The following office-bearers for 1897-98 were declared duly
elected, being the only nominations received : — President, Mr. C.
French, F.L.S. ; vice-presidents, Messrs. T. S. Hall, M.A., and J.
Shephard ; hon. librarian, Mr. O. A. Sayce ; hon. treasurer, Mr.
C. Frost, F.L.S. ; and hon. secretary, Mr. G. Coghill.

A ballot for five members of committee resulted in the election
of Messrs. E. Anderson, D. Best, J. Gabriel, J. G. Luehmann,
F.L.S., and XV. Stickland.

On the motion of Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., seconded by Mr. F.
G. A. Barnard, a vote of thanks to the retiring hon. secretary
was passed with acclamation.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. A. Coles, entitled "Additional Notes on the
Australian Goshawk."

The author gave a detailed description of the bird referred to
in his notes read at the previous meeting, and which he had
decided to name Astur macidosus, or the Spotted-fronted Gos-
hawk. Specimens of the bird, with its eggs, were exhibited in
illustration of the paper.

In the discussion which took place, Messrs. D. Le Souef, G. A.
Keartland, and A. J. Campbell expressed the opinion that further

42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

observation was required before the bird referred to could be con-
sidered a new species.

2. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, entitled " Notes on the Pallid
Cuckoo."

The author mentioned that eggs of the Pallid Cuckoo have
been found in the nests of no less than thirty-two different species
of birds, including the introduced English Linnet and Blackbird,
and gave many interesting particulars of the recorded occurrences.

Some discussion ensued, Messrs. G. Coghill, A. Coles, G. A.
Keartland, and D. Le Souef mentioning cases which had come
under their notice.

3. By Mr. F. M. Reader (communicated by Mr. C. Frost,
F.L.S.), entitled " Contributions to the Flora of Victoria, No. 3."

The writer described a new plant belonging to the genus Tillaea,
Micheli, which he had named TiUcea exserta. It was collected
by himself near Dimboola in 1892. It is closely allied to the
European TiUcea muscosa, L., but differs in many respects. Speci-
mens of the plant were forwarded for exhibition.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. G. E. Shepherd, of Somerville, Western Port, forwarded a
note recording the recent occurrence of the Porphyry-crowned
Lorikeet, the Red-kneed Dottrel, and the White-faced Storm
Petrel in his district, all being previously unknown there, together
with a specimen of each bird for exhibition.

Mr. G. A. Keartland mentioned that the date fixed for the
commencement of the close season for opossums was too late, and
suggested that the Commissioner of Customs be interviewed on
the subject. After some discussion it was decided that the question
be left in the hands of a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. A.
Coles, D. Le Souef, and G. A. Keartland to take what action they
consider best.

EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS.

By Mr. A. Coles. — Female specimen of Goshawk, Astur approx-
imans, and male and female of Spotted-fronted Goshawk, Astur
maculosus, and 5 eggs of same. By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Nests
and eggs of foster parents of Pallid Cuckoo, in illustration of paper.
By Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. — Original paintings of Victorian orchids,
also photograph of Selwyn's Rock, South Australia. By Consul
Gundersen. — Minerals from St. Paul Island. By Mr. G. A.
Keartland. — Lizards from South Australia. By Mr. F. M.
Reader. — Dried plants, Gahnia lanigera, new for Victoria, and
Styphelia adscendens, new for N.W. Victoria ; also TiUcea exserta
(new sp.), from Dimboola, in illustration of paper. By Mr. G.
E. Shepherd. — Porphyry-crowned Lorikeet, Red-kneed Dottrel,
and White-faced Storm Petrel, from Western Port.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 43

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW VICTORIAN GOSHAWK,

ASTUR MACULOSUS.

By A. Coles.

{Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14th June, 1897.)

Many of the members of the Club will remember that some two
or three years ago I stated that there had been a mistake made
when describing our Goshawks in supposing that the two birds
{i.e., the one with the spotted front and the other with the barred
breast) were identical, differing only in age. This statement was
challenged by several members. Since then, assisted by several of
our members, I have done what I could to prove my assertions,
and have secured 25 specimens. Among them I have found only
two of the supposed adult birds, i.e., with the barred breast, the
remaining 23 specimens being the supposed younger birds, having
long oval spots down the front of the neck and breast.

I find the whole of the markings of these latter birds differ from
the Australian Goshawk, Astur approximans, as described by
Vigors and Horsfield, in every respect, and in no case do I find
any indication of a change of plumage taking place, as has been
asserted by others. This can be clearly seen by the birds and
their feathers which I have for examination this evening. I have
also the bones of the two birds, and in them there is ample proof
of their specific difference. If you compare the breast-bones of
the birds it will be seen that that of the Australian Goshawk is of a
much broader built bird than the " Spotted-fronted ; " the bones,
however, are of the same length, and it seems to me that if this
difference be caused by age it should show both in length and
breadth, while the keel extends to the end in the former bird,
and is shortened in the latter.

I therefore consider the bird worthy of specific distinction, and
propose for it the name Astur maculosus. The following is a
description of a female bird shot at Blackburn in April last : —

Astur maculosus, Coles, Spotted-fronted Goshawk.

Female. — The bird in general shape and size is very similar to
the Australian Goshawk, Austur approximans, V. and H. — a little
less in length, not so stout in the body, nor as broad in the head,
and differing altogether in colour and markings. Length from
bill to tail, 19^ inches; length of leg, 9 inches; from knee to
toe, 5 Y& inches ; width of foot, 4 inches. Width of wings, 3 feet ;
from shoulder to point of primaries, 12 inches. Tail, 9 inches,
containing 12 feathers. The culmen, or upper mandible, ^-inch
long, J^-inch broad ; genys, or lower mandible, ^-inch by )^-inch
thick ; both black, with yellow dash at the base of the lower
extending into the upper. Eyes pale yellow, with large black
centres. Forehead white, streaked with dark brown and rufous ;

44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

crown dark brown and rufous ; nape blackish brown and white ;
scapulars brown, edged with rufous ; upper and lower back
brown ; rump brown, edged with rufous ; upper tail coverts same
colour ; tail leaden brown, with black bars and white tips ;
cheeks and ear coverts white, closely marked with brown dashes ;
throat and chest white, with long oval dark-brown spots ; breast
and belly white, with brown diagonal bars ; vent and under tail
coverts same colour, with bars much wider apart ; under tail
whitish slate, with a slight tinge of rufous, with brown bars ;
thighs dirty white, with close rufous diagonal bars ; legs and feet
dirty yellow.

The Male Bird is much smaller, measuring 1 7 inches, but the
markings are the same as in the female, though with a little less
depth of colour. This species does show some variability in the
depth of tint of its colour, some specimens being much darker
than others, but the markings are constant throughout.

At last meeting I exhibited the eggs of both birds, which also
differ in every respect. These eggs are now in the possession of
Mr. G. E. Shepherd, a member of the Club. However, I have a
painting of the eggs with me to-night, together with five other
eggs of the Spotted-fronted variety, but I have never had or seen
more than the one egg of the Australian Goshawk.

Gould, in his work, describes the eggs as follows : — " Eggs,
three in number, of a bluish white, smeared over with blotches
of a brownish buff, 1 inch 10 lines by 1 inch 5 lines." He also
says : — "It might readily be supposed that this bird is very common,
and such is in reality the case, for it is one of the most abundant
and generally dispersed of the hawks inhabiting New South
Wales and Van Diemen's Land." This note can only be ac-
counted for by his confusing the two birds, and is quite in
opposition to our experience in Victoria, as it is a difficult matter
to obtain here a specimen of the bird he has figured in his book.

A comparison of the eggs I have secured, which were taken
at Hopetoun, is as follows : — Australian Goshawk, of a bluish
white, with a slight green tinge, with dark reddish-brown spots,
iJ/% inches long by \y% inches full. Eggs of Astur maculosus
are four in number, of a rounder shape than the Australian
Goshawk — 1^ inches long by i$& inches full, of a dull white,
with a slight tint of blue, with one or two crooked fine lines of a
reddish brown and a few small spots of the same colour.

In conclusion, it will be seen by the feathers on the black-
board that there are fewer bars on every feather of the " Spotted-
fronted " than the other variety. The back of the latter bird is
of a plain leaden brown, whilst that of the "Spotted-fronted" is
of a rich brown, barred all the way down the back, the tail
feathers being white at the points, which does not occur in the
Australian Goshawk.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 45

A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA.

By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S.

Part XXIV.

C^ESYRA. Meyr.

882. C. mchroella, Zeller (CEcophora dichroella, Zeller, Hor.

Soc. Ross., 1877, 389; (E. divisella, Walk., 685;
Ccesyra dichroella, Meyr. — CEcophoridai, Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W., xi., 47).
Gisborne, &c.

883. C. Kershawi, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 293, 1893).
Springvale.

*884. C iozona, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — CEcophoridai,
xi., 48).
Melbourne.

*885- C. distephana, Meyr. (loc. cit.)
Melbourne.

886. C. anthodora, Meyr. (loc. cit., 49).
Gisborne, Fernshaw.

*887. C. basilica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 50).
Brighton.

*888. C. triptycha, Meyr. (loc. cit., 51).
Melbourne.

889. C ph^eocosma, Meyr. (loc. cit., xv., 1,655).
Fernshaw.

890. C. cyclotoma, Meyr. (loc. cit., xi., 51).
Melbourne.

*89i. C. zonostola, Meyr. (loc. cit., 52).
Frankston.

^892. C. ocellaris, Meyr. (loc. cit., 53).
Sandringham.

^893. C. zanclotoma, Meyr. (loc. cit.)
Melbourne (Studley Park).

*894. C. annularis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 54 ; Philobola athletica, Ros.
Ann. Mag. N.H., 443, 1885).
Gisborne.

895. C. personata, Meyr. (loc. cit.)
Melbourne.

*896. C. ecliptica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 55).
Ararat.

46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

*897. C. catoptrina, Meyr. (loc. cit., 56).

Melbourne.
*898. C. paracycla, Meyr. (loc. cit., 57).

Gisborne.

*8o9. C. acrotropa, Meyr. (Joe. cit., 59).
Melbourne.

*900. C. stenoptera, Meyr. (loc. cit., 6oj.
Mount Macedon.

901. C. parvula, Meyr. (loc. cit., 63).
Warragul, Gisborne, Melbourne, &c.

902. C. ochrochoa, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 10 1, 1894).
Gisborne.

902A. C. noserodes, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W —
CEcophoridcb, xv., 1,658).
Warragul.

EPIPYRGA. Meyr.
BRACHYNEMATA. Meyr.

903. B. cingulata, Meyr. (loc. cit., xii., 1).
Stavvell.

MICROBELA. Meyr.
*904. M. epicona, Meyr. (loc. cit., 2).

Melbourne.
905. M. allocoma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 3).

Melbourne.
*9o6. M. monodyas, Meyr. (loc. cit., 4).

Melbourne.

HETEROZYGA. Meyr.
*9o7. H. coppatias, Meyr. (loc. cit., 5).

Gisborne, Melbourne.

OXYTHECTA. Meyr.
908. O. alternella, Walk. (GEcophora alternella, Walk. B.M.
Cat., 682 ; Oxythecta alternella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecophoridcc, xii., 6).
Gisborne, Melbourne.
*909. O. hieroglyphica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 8).

Melbourne.
*9io. O. zonoteles, Meyr. (loc. cit., 9).

Doubtfully Victorian.
911 O. acceptella, Walk. (CEcophora acceptella, Walk., B.M.
Cat., 694 ; CE. connexella, ib., 695 ; Crypiolechia
abstersella, ib. 762 ; Oxythecta acceptella, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — (Ecophoridce, xii., 10).
Melbourne.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47

CREPIDOSCELKS. Meyr.

*qi2. C exanthema, Meyr. (he. rit., 13).
Melbourne.

OCYSTOLA. Meyr.

913. O. hemicalypta, Meyr. (he. cit., 17).
Melbourne.

914. O. oxyptera, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc., S.A., 101, 1894).
Stawell.

915. O. hemisema, Meyr.(Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. — CEcophoridw.

xii., 19).
Melbourne.
*9i6. O. oxytora, Meyr. (he. cit., 20).
Melbourne.

917. O. malacella, Meyr. (he. cit.)
Gisborne, Fern sh aw.

918. O. callixantha, Meyr. (he. cit., xv., 1,663).
Warragul, Fernshaw.

919. O. acroxantha, Meyr. (he. cit., xii., 22).
Warragul.

*92o. O. anthera, Meyr. (he. cit, 22).
Ringwood.

*92i. O. psamathina, Meyr. (he. cit., 26).

Melbourne.
*92 2. O. PYRAMIS, Meyr. (he. cit., 29).

Brighton.
923. O. illuta, Meyr. (he. cit., 30).

Melbourne.
*924. O. monostropha, Meyr. (he. cit., 31).

Gisborne.

*924A. O. homoleuca, Meyr. (he. <-it., 32).

Melbourne.
*925- O. glacialis. Meyr. (he. cit., 33).

Melbourne.
*926. O. crystallina, Meyr. (he. cit.)

Sandringham.

927. O. paulinella, Newm. (CEcophora paulinella, Newm., Tr.
Ent. Soc. Lond., vol. iii., N.S., 297, pi. xviii. ;
Ocystola paulinella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. —
(EcophoridcB, xii., 34).
Gisborne, Melbourne, &c.

*928. O. NEUROTA, Meyr. (he. cit., 38).
Gisborne, Sale.

48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

HAPLODYTA. Meyr.

929. H. thoracta, Meyr. (loc. cit., (Ecophoridce, xii., No. 399).
Fernshaw.

*93o. H. heteropla, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 400)."
Colac.

MACH^ERITIS. Meyr.

931. M. calligenes, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 402).
Fernshaw.

*932. M. grammophora, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 403).
Melbourne.

*933- M. samphoras, Meyr. (loc cit., No. 406).
Sale.

*934- M. ^grella, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 410).
Melbourne.

PROTEROMICTA. Meyr.

LEPTOCROCA. Meyr.

935. L. sanguinolenta, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 419).
Gisborne, Melbourne, &c.

GUESTIA. Meyr.

*936. G. peladelpha, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A, 101, 1894).
Melbourne (at light).

CECOPHORA. Zeller.

937. CE. anthemodes, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 432).
Warragul, Fernshaw.

938. CE. ochroma, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 433).
Melbourne.

939. CE. PSEUDOPRETELLA, Stt.

Melbourne, &c.

*94o. CE. EREMiEA, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 438).
Melbourne.

*94i. CE. lymphatica, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 441)
Colac.

*942. CE. sulfurea, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 443).
Gisborne.

*943. CE. eurrhoa, Meyr. [loc. cit., No. 446).
Gippsland.

CROSSOPHORA. Meyr.

*944- C. thetias. Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 472).
Near Melbourne.

THE

|l i c tot* tan |tatitralt0t*

Vol. XIV.— No. 4. AUGUST 5, 1897. No. 164.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th July, 1897. The
president, Mr. C. French, F. L.S., occupied the chair, and owing
to the inclement weather only some 35 members and visitors were
present.

REPORTS.

Mr. J. Shephard made a few remarks on the visit to the Bio-
logical School Museum, University, on 19th June, stating that,
thanks to Professor Spencer, M.A., a most instructive and enjoy-
able afternoon had been spent.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following publica-
tions as exchanges, donations, &c. : — " Proceedings of the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," 1895, part ii. ;
" Proceedings of the Linnean Society, New South Wales," 1896,
part iv. ; "Guides to Growers," No. 31, and "Tuberculin Test,"
from the Department of Agriculture, Victoria ; " Thirteenth
Annual Report Field Naturalists' Section of Royal Society of South
Australia ;" " Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines, Victoria,"
1S96 ; " Contributions to a Knowledge of the Arachnidan Fauna
of Australia," Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 ; and "The Insect Fauna
of Funafuti," from the author, Mr. W. J. Rainbow.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

It was decided, on the proposition of Mr. J. Gabriel, seconded
by Mr. O. A. Sayce, " That an extraordinary general meeting be
held on Monday evening, 9th August, 1897, at 7.45, to consider
and amend Rule No. 6 in such a way that all members who are
only in arrears for the current year (payable in advance) may be
entitled to vote at the annual election of offLe-bearers."

The Chairman drew attention to the proposal of the committee
of adding, when printing the list of members of the Club, partic-
ulars of the branch of study followed by each individual, and, in
commending the usefulness of such a list, reminded members that
the hon. secretary required the new information at once.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. H. T. Tisdall, entitled " A Botanical Peep into the
Rocky Pools of Sorrento and Queenscliff," part ii.

^k

50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

The author entered into a most interesting description of the
Algae found in the half-tide and deeper pools in those localites,
and, with the aid of drawings, paintings, and mounted specimens,
enabled members to follow him closely. The parasitic plant
Notheia anomala, which springs from the conceptacle of Hormosira,
was mentioned as calling for closer investigation as to its life-history ;
while the strong Macrocystis pyrifera, that acts as a buoy to
warn navigators, and is said to be the highest plant in the world,
growing to 800 feet or over, was described from its commencement
as a tiny spore.

The author deplored the waste of material here as compared
with older countries in that our drift seaweed is not made use of
as manure, and pointed out the economic value of Porphyra,
Chondria, Gelidium and other Algae.

Some discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Barnard, T. S. Hall,
M.A., J. G. Luehmann, and the Chairman joined.

2. By Mr. J. Shephard, entitled "A New Rotifer, Lacinularia
elliptica."

The author described a new Rotifer found during a recent Club
excursion to Heidelberg, which is a further exemplification of the
necessity of carefully examining all material obtained on such
occasions. The paper was illustrated by drawings and mounted
specimens under the microscope.

3. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., entitled " The Flowers of
Fig Trees."

The author, in a conversational manner, with the aid of drawings
and specimens, gave a demonstration on the construction of these
hidden flowers, which proved most interesting.

4. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, entitled " Note on Pieris perimale,
Don." The writer pointed out that the butterfly, generally known
as P. scyl/ara, Macl., but with a long list of synonyms, is really
only a variety of P. perhnale, Don., an already nan:ed and com-
mon species.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L S., read a note received from Dr. A.
Morrison, now of Perth, W.A., with a list of uncommon plants
collected near the mouth of the Yarra and at Werribee, which
rarely occur on the eastern side of Melbourne. Some discussion
ensued on the occurrence of plants commonly found in the Mallee,
near Melbourne, and Mr. T. S. Hall stated that similar plants had
been collected at the mouth of the Little River by the Rev. L S.
Hart.

Mr. C. M. Maplestone reported having found six species of
orchids in flower within 30 yards of one another on a roadside at
Eltham.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., read a note on an uncommon seal,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51

Lobodon carcinophaga, caught at Portland in 1894, and again
recently at St. Kilda. This species is known as the " Crab-
eating " or " White Antartic Seal," and has not previously been
recorded so far north.

Mr. A. Coles contributed a short account of a case of longevity
in the Butcher Bird in captivity, and exhibited the skin of a bird
that had been caught before 1870, and had lived until June
last.

The Chairman announced that Mr. H. T. Tisdall had promised
to present the Club with mounted specimens of the Alga;
mentioned in his paper, for which he was unanimously accorded a
vote of thanks.

EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By
Mr. A. Coles- — Skins of two Butcher Birds, Cracticus torquatvs,
one 3 years and the other 28 years old, in illustration of his note.
By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Coloured drawings of life-history of
Ayarista conlorla, by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. By Mr. C. French,
jun. — Rare eggs of Regent Bird from Queensland, first time
exhibited in Victoria. By Mr. J. Gabriel — Shells dredged at
Western Port. By Mr. R. Hall — Short-billed Smicrornis skins,
nest and eggs ; Little Cormorant, Graculus melanoleucus, skins,
eggs, and photograph of a rookery. By Mr. Jas. A, Kershaw —
Specimens of butterfly, Pieris perimale, Don., from New South
Wales and Queensland, in illustration of his paper. By Mr. J. G.
Luehmann, F.L.S. — Hydroida collected by the late Mr. H. Watts,
and recently determined by Professor Kirchenpauer. By Mr. F.
M. Reader — Dried plants from the Wimmera, Lepidosperma
longitudiuale, Lab., Poa syrtica, F. and M., both new for N.W,
Victoria. By Mr. J. Shephard — Mounted Rotifers, Lacinularia
ettiptica, in illustration of his paper, also fossil diatoms from South
Yarra. By Mr. H. T. Tisdall, in illustration of his paper — A
volume containing 170 species of Victorian seaweeds, being vol.
xxviii. of his "Flora Victoriensis ;" 16 mounted Algae and
coloured drawings of 104 diatoms copied from a microscopic
slide of J. D. Moller.

After the usual conversazonie the meeting terminated.

Orchids near Eltham. — I found last month, on a bank on
the side of the old road between the Plenty River and Eltham,
within a distance of thirty yards or so, the following orchids in
flower : — Pterostylis nutans, P. aphylla, P. concinna, Corysanth.es
pruinosa, Acianthus exsertus, and Prasophyllum despec/ans.—
C. M. Maplestone. 12th July, 1897.

52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

EXCURSION TO KEILOR.
On the 24th of May a party of four met at Spencer-street a little
before 1 1 o'clock. We had not decided whether to take the
train to St. Albans and walk across the plain to Keilor, or to go
to Essendon and there engage a cab which would carry us out to
the township. As we found our party a small one, we decided
on the former alternative. When we reached St. Albans we
found that the open basaltic country, dreary at the best of times,
was not a very pleasant place with a strong northerly gale blow
ing. Having previously noted that the direction in which we
wanted to go bore N. 370 E. from the station, we took a compass
observation and began our march. After about a couple of miles
we reached the road leading down into Green Gully and across
it to Keilor. Going down the hill, we soon found ourselves below
the level of the volcanic rock which forms the great expanse of
the Keilor Plains. Immediately under this occurred a sheet of
quartzite, the sand which formed the bed having been by some
means cemented together by silica. This rock proved to be very
hard, but a few chips were broken off, and three of the excursion-
ists puzzled over its nature for some time, but at last hit on its
composition. This bed of quartzite was observed to be fairly
horizontal in position, and its outcrop made the hill some-
what steep where it occurred. In a small gully under this
bed was found a large outcrop of clay. As the leader again
declined to give any information as to its nature, the rest of the
party had perforce to spend some time in its examination. One
of them called to mind that it resembled clays which occurred in
the Royal Park cutting, which had been there proved on a pre-
vious excursion to be the product of decomposition of the Older
Volcanic rock. Further evidence was soon found, and later on
a quarry in the hard bluestone showed our determination to be
correct. On going down the creek, traversing the hill-side at a
slightly lower level than before, a patch of limestone was found.
So closely did the creamy colour of this rock accord with that
of the decomposed basalt, that it was not until some fossils
were noted that it was pronounced to be limestone. Fossils
of a readily identifiable nature were scarce, but it was seen
that the limestone consisted almost entirely of polyzoa and
foraminifera. Towards the top of this five-foot band the beds
grew more gritty, and were overlain by sands cemented together
and stained a red ochre colour by oxide of iron ; above this again
lay the quartzites, and, capping everything, the youngest bed of
all, the Newer Basalt. A little further down stream it was found
that the limestone had disappeared, and that the iron-stained sands
were thicker. A search for fossils in the loose blocks that strewed
the hill face soon resulted in the finding of some casts or prints
of fossils in the rock. These were of Eocene age. After lunch

TSE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 53

in a sheltered spot, an aneroid reading was taken in the bed of
the stream beside the bridge, and the depth of the valley found
to be about 150 ft. The road up the other side of the valley was
then followed, and in a cutting iron-stained sands passing up into
fawn-coloured sands and quartzites were again observed over-
lying the irregular surface of the Older Volcanic rock. When
the top of the hill was reached we found ourselves once more on
the level of the plateau. A detour was then made to the east-
ward, and at a locality marked on the geological map a search
was made for graptolites. A fair number of specimens were
found, though the variety of forms proved to be very small.
They were pronounced to be of Upper Silurian age, but their
identity has not yet been established. A start was then made for
home, and after a five-mile tramp from here we reached the
Essendon railway station, having safely escaped collision with the
numerous bicyclists, and with shoulders sore from the weight of
our spoils. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that the Essendon
station is 146 feet above sea level, that at St. Albans 218 feet ;
and the aneroid gave the plateau at Green Gully and at the
Keilor Church as 254 feet, and the bed of the creek at the bridge
100 feet above the sea. — T. S. Hall.

NOTES ON THE BIRD FAUNA OF THE BOX HILL
DISTRICT.

By Robert Hall.
{Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 12th April, 1897.)
In continuation of my notes on the bird fauna of the Box Hill
district read before the Club some months ago, and published in
the last volume of the Victorian Naturalist (vol. xii., pp. 127-
143), I wish to bring under your notice the birds to which the
group-name of " Warblers " can be applied. These, in my dis-
trict, number no less than ten of the twenty-two Australian
species, though one of them here included is structurally not a
true warbler ; but many field observers will doubtless agree with
me in considering the Blue Wren, Jfahtrus cyaneus, Ellis, almost
the finest warbler we have, from a vocal point of view.

The Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus, Lath., has lately been
excluded from the list of " Warblers," but is included here, being
of similar habit, &c, to the last-mentioned species.

A third species, the Reed Warbler, Calamoherpe Australis,
Gould, seems also to have come under an act of separation. It
is a fine warbler, and, although during day and night always to
be found in the reed-beds, is generally referred to as one of the
Sylviinae, or inhabitants of the woods. All along the eastern
coast of Australia this species may be found, while a second

54 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

species inhabits the western portion of the continent, no repre-
sentative having yet been recognized in the intervening space,
where few reed-beds exist.

With this brief allusion to my inclusion of these three doubtfuls,
from an anatomist's point of view, in my field observations I will
at once proceed to that most familiar of hedge birds, the Yellow-
rumped Geobasileus, Geobasileus chrysorrhcea, Q. and G. This little
tit or so-called " yellow-tail," to city people the most familiar of
country native birds, is of a small size and even appears to attract
more notice than the Ground Lark or proper Pipit. Thechrome-yellow
of the upper tail coverts, with apex of each rectrice barred with
black, makes this little grey bird a distinctly prominent one. The
markings are only noticeable when the birds, finding themselves
disturbed on the feeding ground, rise upon wing and with blended
voices alight in the acacia. They quickly return to the grass and
appear to have little fear of man. With the aid of their tiny feet
the birds move rapidly along the ground in search of insects.

This one of ten species of a genus peculiar to Australia puts
aside its gregarious habit about July, and enters upon the work of
nest-building, a structure that is generally placed within nine feet
or rarely over twelve feet from the ground. The house is one-
chambered, dome-shaped, and with cuplike cavity fitted to each
above for the non-sitting bird, when the shades of night have
fallen and the food of this species has retired. Occasionally two
chambers will be formed, without an upper cavity, one lined with
care, the other not so, and no dependence can be placed upon
which will be correctly finished.

I believe the cuckoo's actions will finally settle the matter, for
if the " parasite's " egg be deposited in one cavity before laying of
eggs of the rightful owner, the Geobasileus will place its eggs in
the other, with the result that the cuckoo will not be hatched.

In the case where a one-chambered nest has become utilized
by the stranger, the " tit " may cover the introduced coloured egg
with a lining of feathers, and so prevent incubation ; but this is
not generally resorted to, and the strongest chick becomes the
sole surviving member of the group. At another time the cuckoo
may be " unfortunate " in the deposition of its egg within the
cup-shaped cavity of the nest, after which it will naturally remain
unhatched, but this is of rare occurrence.

Last season I observed a double nest — a semi-detached house
— built in the whin, both perfect externally, but the inner one
with its entrance facing the bush — an unusual position — finished
internally. The whole was new, and the outer one contained an
egg of the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, the inner a clutch of
the Geobasileus. The birds appeared to be in excellent plumage,
and were probably old enough to remember the disappointment
of c-ne or two past seasons, in so much as related to the hardship

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55

of rearing an uncongenial bird. As with previous cases, the
foreign egg remained unhatched, and this gave the smaller bird
an opportunity to rear its young without the stronger opposition
of the well-known fighting character. Rarely do small birds add
a second nest of the same nature. Mr. Romanes has noted this
inclination in the Common Wren of Europe, and individual cases
are elsewhere quoted.

The " yellow-tail tit " of the boys builds its nest not only in
hedges, but against the trunks and larger branches of various
trees, and, as has been previously noted, to the sticks of the
lower portion of Crows' or Ravens' nests, without any interest in
the blue or white eyes of their black neighbours. The parasitical
Mistletoe (Loranthus) is also resorted to, as well as the Wattle.

A case of two clutches of eggs placed in the same nest, and
being sat upon by two birds, is quite unusual. The eggs
numbered six, and one male bird appeared to feed the sitting
ones with insects. That two birds sat upon the eggs was proved
by the flight of both from the nest upon approaching it. How
this state of matters would have developed I cannot say, as
observations were interrupted by the wilful destruction of the
nest. The disposition of this species is certainly a friendly one.
A young neighbour of mine one evening caught a family of this
tit, comprising the parents and three young ones, and trans-
ferred them along with the nest to a wire-faced box, where they
were carefully kept and fed for fourteen days, at the conclusion
of which they were allowed their freedom. Each evening, for
three weeks, they returned to the box to roost, and doubtless
would have continued the custom had not the innocent-looking
cat of the house preyed upon the five in the late hours of the
night.

In further evidence of the goodnature of this bird, I may say
that, having extracted the eggs from one nest, I kept them away
for nearly twenty minutes, and then returned two of the three
with indented sides, less a cuckoo's egg that was with them.
The bird gracefully, with agitation, returned to its eggs and I
believe brought the young out, according to evidences seen on
my return to the nest a few weeks later. I know it sat upon the
eggs for days after the occurrence.

Our nearest allied bird to G. chrysorrliwa is the Buff-rumped
Geobasileus, G. reguloides, V. and H., easily known from the
former by its absence of white markings on the forehead and the
fainter colour of the upper tail coverts. It is numerous in this
locality and well dispersed over the country lying south-east of an
imaginary line between Spencer's Gulf and the Fitzroy River, in
Queensland. Both species are popular friends of tillers of the
soil, but rarely are they recognized as two species. G. reguloides,
by its habit of hanging to gum-trees, is generally confused with

56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

the Striated Acanthiza, but when it is associated with G. chrys-
orrhcea the two are also considered as one. The differences of
manner and markings are quite evident when once shown. Even
in the newly fledged of both species there is no room for a diffi-
culty, for the conspicuous markings of the adults are upon the
young before leaving the nest. The best reference plate of this
species is to be found in Diggles's " Birds of Australia."

This restless bird has quite a different series of notes to the
previous one, the calls being sharp, high, regular, metallic, and it
associates in flocks in the eucalyptus, flying quickly, with a less
jerky motion than that of G. chrysorrlima. The position of the
compact and artful nest varies from a bracken 18 inches from the
ground to a sapling, with occasionally a hedge ?s an environment.
It is built according to circumstances but always upon the same
plan. The architecture will only vary in the material, and feathers
where obtainable will form a favourable inner wall. One of my
friends tells me of four nests observed by himself in a forest
near Camperdown, which were built, so far as the main portion
was concerned, with sheep's wool and grass, and rabbit's fur for
the internal lining. In our suburban districts the soft bark of
trees is largely used, with feathers. The eggs are laid each alternate
day and three is a usual number for a sitting, sometimes four.
The period of incubation is 18 days, and time from breaking of
shell to departure from nest 19 or 20 days, and, like the former
species, it is vigorous, and capable of first flight equal to that
made by the parents.

Mr. George Graham, of the Heytesbury Forest, having more than
ordinary interest in nature, has written to me of a fact showing
evident persistence on the part of a pair of birds to rear a family.
The first brood was breakfasted on by a fox, which naturally left
nobody at home. The second clutch of three eggs would not
hatch out on the sixteenth day of sitting, so a third clutch of equal
number was placed upon these, with material between, which
hatched out on the eighteenth day from laying of latest eggs.

Our next species, and the smallest member of its genus, is the
Striated Acanthiza, Acanthiza lineata, Gould, W.*, peculiar to
Tasmania and our continent. It is the well-known " Hanging
Tit," from its manner of scampering through the " gum " foliage
most of its time in search of food, by being suspended from
leaves at the extremities of the branches. The Melbourne dis-
trict contains three groups of " tits," in popular nomenclature —
one found in the trees, which includes this species, A. pusilla,
and A. nana; a second preferring the ground, its representative
being the Chthonicola, or " Ground Tit," by local designation ;
and a third of " go-betweens," represented by the Buff and
Yellow-rumped Geobasileus. The nest of A. lineata is well woven,
small in comparison with the unwieldly mass of G. chrysorrhcea,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 5?

made of dry grass, lined with brown and white hair of the cow.
This is typical here, but the divergence is as great in the material
as with other species. The typical dome form, with side entrance,
never varies, according to my knowledge of the matter. Only
once have I been able to watch the times of laying of eggs, and
then they were deposited on each successive day.

The Little Brown Acanthiza, A pusilla, Lath., W.*, is a bird you
will often enough find located in the Melaleuca, and although it
is very small and difficult of observation in the thick foliage of
creek or upland timber, its pleasant and varied voice will help
you to trace its whereabouts. The notes are liquid and musical,
pitched with variety, and extensive, heard to advantage when one
is near, for its mellow voice is not strong enough to penetrate
beyond the distance of a few yards. In a single case communi-
cated to me by the naturalist already referred to, the time of
laying of three eggs was forty-eight hours apart, and the young re-
mained in the nest eighteen days. From five nests of this species
a fox extracted the young birds, and it has become a pest to the
observer and to young Laughing Jackasses, Dacelo yigas, which it
will snatch from low stumps.

The Little Acanthiza, A. nana, Vig. and Hors., should perhaps
be recorded as an occasional visitor rather than as a resident of
the district. From its close general resemblance to the other
Acanthizse, it is difficult to distinguish among the foliage. It
has a note different from the others, and is less numerous than in
the Wimmera district.

We now come to a group of four Warblers, two of which,
of different genera, Cisticola and Calamoherpe, are scantily
represented, while one of the other two, Malurus, is abundant in
the distiict. The three genera are characterized by different
habits. The Grass Warbler (Cisticola), is found only in rank
grass, where trees are absent ; the Reed Warbler (Calamoherpe),
is found only among reeds, which in the district are comparatively
scarce ; while the Superb Warblers (Malurus) are generally found
in high grass and undergrowth among timber.

The Rufous-headed Grass Warbler, Cisticola rujicepv, Gould,
is the smallest of these particular warblers, and is of a tawny
colour, with linear dark variations. Walking through lon^, rank
grass, with large, brownish butterflies rising and flitting in the fore-
ground, one is quite uncertain whether the bird is a butterfly or
not as it gently and slowly leaves the grass stems for a tardy flight
of some fifty yards, but as it reaches the clear horizon the difference
is noted. Flitting high in air, its melodious warble, though having
only two notes, does not seem to jar upon our ears, however often
repeated.

While Dr. Ramsay's " List of Australian Birds " gives us four
distinct species of this genus, the " British Museum Catalogue,"

58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

vol. vii., p. 269, regards them as a single species, G. exilis, 0.
ruficeps being catalogued as a species occupying N.E. Africa.

On the 12th of December last I obtained a skin of a female C.
lineocapilla which had mated with a male of C. rujiceps. The
nest is a grassy, domed, side-entranced structure, appended to
the long sheathing leaves of dry grass tussocks up to three feet
from the ground, with richly-coloured blue eggs hidden from view.
Owing to the wariness of the builders, the nests are difficult to
procure, for you may lay in cover a considerable time before the
strategy of the bird in wending its way among the tussocks before
arrival at the nest is discovered.

(To be continued).

NOTES ON THE PALLID CUCKOO.
By A. J. Campbell.

(Read before the Field Naturalists'1 Club of Victoria, lith June, 1897.,)
In the proper season the Pallid Cuckoo, Guculus pallidas, Lath.,
may be either seen, or heard by its melancholy cry, in nearly every
part of Australia and Tasmania. It may be considered migratory
in its movements ; and, according to the kind of season in certain
quarters, appears in greater or less numbers. For instance,
during the periods of great drought in the interior and Queensland,
decidedly more of these birds visit, say, Victoria, or the seaboard
country.

In the south, the first Pallid Cuckoo of the season is generally
heard about the middle or end of August, or the beginning
of September. However these would appear, as far as my
observations go, to be preceded by silent birds of the same
species, which may be seen about the timber or perched on
fences or on telegraphic wires about the beginning of August.
Why these forerunners should be silent, or whether they are all
one sex, has not been ascertained.

The first Pallid Cuckoo's egg is deposited in the selected
foster-parent bird's nest about the middle or towards the end
of September. October and November constitute the chief laying
time, while a few birds lay during the beginning of December.
When summer is ended, or about the end of March, all the
Pallid Cuckoos — old and their young — retire northward.

Whether the Pallid Cuckoo lays more than one egg (it probably
does) is not definitely settled, but its single and beautiful
flesh-coloured egg is found in various insectivorous or semi-
insectivorous birds' nests in Queensland, as well as the southern
provinces, including Tasmania.

Among the foster-parents, Gould mentions the various Ptilotes
and Melithrepti (Honey-eaters), but we possess no data to show

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

59

that he should have included the Maluri (Wrens) and Acanthizae
(Tits) for this particular cuckoo.

The following is an enumeration of the foster-parents of the
Pallid Cuckoo, as far as are known at present, the majority being
now recorded for the first time, namely : —

Vernacular Name.

White-plumed Honey-eater
Yellow-tufted ,,

Yellow-faced ,,

Fuscous ,,

Yellow-throated ,,
White-eared ,,

Lunulated ,,

Brown -headed ,,

Black-headed ,,

Strong-billed ,,

Wattle- Bird

Brush Wattle- Bird
Spinebill ...
Friar Bird ...

Minah

Brown Honey-eater

New Holland Honey-eater

Hooded Robin

Dusky ,,

Oriole

Rufous-banded Thickhead

White-throated ,,

Black and White Fantail

Brown Flycatcher

Leaden-coloured Flycatcher

Wood Swallow

White- browed Wood-
Swallow

Masked Wood -Swallow ...

White-rumped Wood-
Swallow

Harmonious Thrush

Magpie Lark

Caterpillar-catcher

Scientific Name.

Ptilotis penicillata

P. auricomis

P. chrysops

P. fusca

P. flavigularis ...

P. leucotis

Melithreptus lunulatus...

M. brevirostris ...

M. melanocephalus

M. validirostris ...

Acanthochasra carunculata

A. mellivora

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Philemon corniculatus ...

Myzantha garrula ' ...

Glycyphila ocularis

Meliornis novre-hollandke

Petneca bicolor

P. vittata

Oriolus viridis ...
Pachycephala rufogularis
P. gutturalis
Khipidura tricolor
Micrceca fascinans

By Whom First
Recorded or
Reported.
A. J. C.
Dr. Ramsay

A. E. Brent, Tas.
C. French, jun.
Dr. Ramsay
G. E. Shepherd
A. E. Brent, Tas.

L. Palmer
A. J. C.

A. J. C.
Messrs. Barnard,
A. J. C.

Messrs. Barnard, Q
G. E. Shepherd
J. T. Gillespie
F. H. Reed
A. J. C.
Messrs. Brittlebank

O.

Myiagra rubecula
Artamus sordidus

A. superciliosus
A. personatus

H. Lau, Q. (Oct.,

1868)
G. E. Shepherd
J. T. Gillespie

A.Campbell, jun.
G. E. .Shepherd

A. leucogaster ...
Collyriocincla harmonica
Grallina picata ...
Lalage tricolor ...

Messrs. Barnard, Q.
Messrs. Brittlebank
J. Sommers
A. J. C. and G. E.
Shepherd.

It will appear from the foregoing list of foster-parents of the
Pallid Cuckoo that the Honey-eaters are the most favoured tribe,
but in every case birds that construct an open nest are
selected.

To the list must be added the introduced birds, the Greenfinch,
Ligurinus chloris, and Blackbird, Turdus mcrula, for Mr.
Charles French, jun., writes me : — " An egg of the Pallid Cuckoo
was taken in the nest of the Greenfinch at Albert Park (near
Melbourne) on the 24th November, 1894. I also found an egg
of the Pallid Cuckoo some time ago in the nest of the English

60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Blackbird in the same park." I had heard previously of the
Greenfinch being a foster-parent, which is remarkable, seeing that
the finch is a seed-eater, or nearly so. However, although
the egg is deposited in the finch's nest, we have no evidence that
it rears the young cuckoo.

Among Mr. J. T. Gillespie's cuckoo notes for 1893, a season
when these birds were plentiful, are the following relating to the
Pallid Cuckoo : —

" 28th October, at Springvale. — Single egg of Pallid Cuckoo
in nest of Wood Swallow, Artamus sordidus. Saw birds
previously building their nest, which was afterwards apparently
deserted.

" 9th November, at Dandenong Creek. — Nest of Lunulated
Honey-eater, Melithreptus lunulatus, containing 2 eggs and an
egg of Pallid Cuckoo.

"nth November, at Springvale. — From Hooded Robin's,
Petrmca bicolor, nest (found building the previous week) took
egg of Pallid Cuckoo.

" 25th November, at Springvale. — In White-plumed Honey-
eater's, Ptilotis penicilldta, 1 egg and an egg of Pallid Cuckoo.

" 3rd December — Took Pallid's egg from nest of Greenfinch
(introduced bird). Finch afterwards laid 4 eggs."

At a meeting of the Royal Society of Victoria, held November,
1894, I read the following note on the occurrence of the egg
of the Pallid Cuckoo in the nest of the Magpie Lark
(Grallina) : —

" My friend, Master John Sommers, of Cheltenham, presented
me with a nest taken in the locality, on the 24th September, 1894,
containing a set of 5 eggs of the Grallina, together with an egg of
the Pallid Cuckoo, C. pallidus. This is the first instance, as far
as I am aware, of an egg of this cuckoo having been found in the
nest of a Grallina."

In the cuckoo's egg, incubation was further advanced than in
the other eggs.

Occasionally two cuckoos' eggs are found in the same nest.
Here is one of Mr. Charles French's, jun., notes thoughtfully sent
to me — '' White-throated Thickhead's, Pachycephalia gutturalis,
nest, containing 1 fresh egg of Thickhead and 2 fresh eggs of
Pallid Cuckoo. Locality, Dandenong Ranges. 9th September,

l895 ' . "

Usually it seems that the cuckoo's egg is the first deposited in
the nest, and, not unfrequently, before the completion of the nest,
as the finding of a Pallid Cuckoo's egg underneath the warm
lining of a Lunulated Honey-eater's nest attests. Once Mr. G.
E. Shepherd found an egg of the Pallid Cuckoo sticking through
the bottom of a White-plumed Honey-eater's nest, the egg being
plainly visible from the ground.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 61

The fact that the cuckoo, after laying its egg, carries it in its
mouth till deposited in the nest of a foster-bird, is now generally
admitted. Here is a proof: — The late Mr. H. A. Smith, of
Batesford, near Geelong, informed me that on one occasion he
shot a Pallid Cuckoo, and removed from the back of its throat or
gape an egg, which was fractured by the bird's fall. Evidently
the unfortunate bird had laid the egg, and was in the act of
conveying it to some suitable nest.

It is probable that the Pallid Cuckoo lays its egg first upon the
ground, and possibly early in the morning, because that is the
time generally when these birds have been flushed from the ground.
In his daylight rambles Mr. Shepherd has frequently disturbed on
the ground a cuckoo with suspicious movements.

Mr. W. A. Milligan furnished me with the somewhat remarkable
note that in Gippsland he had observed an adult Pallid Cuckoo
feeding a young bird of its own kind. Mr. Milligan noticed no
other birds about at the time. Miss Ada Fletcher, Tasmania,
writing to the Australasian, 30th May, 1896, states : — " I myself
have seen a full-grown Pallid Cuckoo feeding a young one of the
same species. The young one, when flushed, flew feebly, and I
judged it had only recently left the foster-parents' nest." These
notes suggest interesting questions. Do cuckoos sometimes assist
the foster-parents in feeding the young, or had these particular
youngsters lost their foster-parents ?

I am inclined to believe that many birds, by instinct, feed
young cuckoos, whether they be the rightful foster-parents or not.
Only last season Master B. E. Bardwell watched a young cuckoo,
probably a Pallid or else a Fantailed, being fed by a Scarlet
Robin, P. teggii, and then, immediately, by a Spine-billed
Honey-eater. The little Honey-eater appeared not only to put
its long bill, but head also, well into the mouth of the youthful
cuckoo. It is hardly likely that the Spinebill was trying to
retrieve for itself the bait placed by the robin in the throat of
the cuckoo.

With reference to the two last statements, namely, that young
cuckoos are sometimes fed by old cuckoos, as well as by birds
other than the proper foster-parents, we have further proof in the
published remarks of Dr. Ramsay in New South Wales.

Following the same plan as in the case of the Bronze Cuckoos,
the Messrs. Ramsay succeeded in procuring two young Pallid
Cuckoos from eggs which they (Ramsays) had left in the nest of
the Yellow-tufted Honey-eater, P. aitricomis, and thus first estab
lished the parentage of the strange eggs.

The cuckoo's egg is hatched about the twelfth or fourteenth
day, when the young cuckoo — a little, fat, helpless creature — is
scarcely larger than its foster brethren. However, growing
rapidly, it soon fills up the greater part of the nest, and its un-

62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

fortunate companions, either smothered by its weight or starved
to death through its greediness, are thrown out by their parents.

Dr. Ramsay proceeds to say : —

"On the 30th October last (1864) we found two unhappy
young birds, which had been hatched in company with a cuckoo
in a nest of Ptilotis auricomis, tossed out and lying upon the
ground just under the nest. These were, of course, quite dead,
and appeared to have been about three or four clays old.

" During the months of October and November, it is no un-
common sight to see the smaller birds feeding the young of
cuckoos. Even the little Acanthizae, which I believe are never the
foster-parents, at least of the Pallid Cuckoo, join in supplying
the wants which are easily made known by their continued
peevish cry, stopping only when being fed, or when their appetites
are appeased.

" While walking towards home through a half-cleared paddock,
I was not a little surprised, upon hearing the cries of a young
cuckoo, to see a pair of adult birds of the same species, C.
pallidas, flying after it, settling beside it, and apparently paying
it great attention. Several times they flew away, but returned to
it again, and, from their actions I feel convinced that they were
feeding it, although, much to my regret, I was unable to obtain a
view sufficiently close to make sure of the fact,"

I may mention, in reference to the throvving-out business, some
persons suppose that the cuckoo throws out an egg or eggs of the
ioster parent to make room for its own. This has not been
proved with regard to the Pallid Cuckoo- — indeed, it has bten
disproved by the fact that the cuckoo's egg is frequently deposited
first, or even before the nest is completed, and that full clutches
of the foster-bird's have been taken together with the cuckoo's
egg. On the other hand, it is probable that some of the foster-
birds throw out cuckoo's eggs. When taking a White-shouldered
Caterpillar-catcher's, Lalage tricolor, nest at Somerville with Mr.
Shepherd, we found a broken egg of the Pallid Cuckoo under-
neath upon the ground — circumstantial evidence, I think, that
the egg had been deposited by the cuckoo in the Caterpillar-
catcher's nest, and thrown overboard by the latter bird. There
is no record of any cuckoo's egg having actually been taken from
a Caterpillar-catcher's nest, but Mr. Shepherd has seen a
Caterpillar-catcher feeding a young Pallid Cuckoo.

In concluding these brief and somewhat scattered observations
on the Pallid Cuckoo, I have to thank my many friends for their
field observations, especially Mr. G. E. Shepherd, who, fortunately,
has been so favourably situated that he has been enabled to
observe Pallid Cuckoos' eggs in no less than nineteen different
species of nests — a record which any field naturalist may well be
proud of.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63

NOTES.

An Uncommon Seal. — In January, 1894. a seal was caught at
Portland and presented to the National Museum by Mr. G. M.
Snowball. The skeleton and stuffed skin have been mounted,
and have been on view for some time, and the species has been
identified as Lobodon carcinophaga by Sir Frederick M'Coy. A
specimen of the same specirs came ashore at St. Kilda, near
Kenney's Baths, last week ; but instead of an attempt biing
made to capture it alive, it was knocked on the head and killed.
The Museum specimen is white, with a very faint tinge of yellow,
while the present specimen is a beautiful glossy pure white. Its
length from snout to tail is 7 feet 4 inches. The body is marked
on each side by a long, deep scar, running upwards and forwards
from the tip of the manus. Mr. Borchegrevink lays stress on
the occurrence of scars on the seals which he noticed far south,
and seems inclined to ascribe them to an unknown carnivorous
foe. Is it not possible for seals to injure one another in this way
when fighting? In the description of the genus in Gray's
"British Museum Catalogue" the whiskers are stated to be
waved. This is, however, not the case in either of the specimens
mentioned, though on a superficial examination it might be
thought to be so. In reality the hairs are much flattened and
spirally twisted (not coded) on their own axis, and a wavy
appearance is thus produced. This species, the Crab-eating Seal,
or White Antarctic Seal, is said to be very common in the pack
ice, but does not seem to have been noticed as far north as
Australia before 1894, and perhaps the occurrence of a second
specimen is worth recording. — T. S. Hall. 12th July, 1897.

Longevity of the Butcher Bird. — An interesting Natural
History item came under my notice recently, in connection with
the life in captivity of a Butcher Bird, Cracticus torqaatus, Lath.,
commonly referred to as the " Whistling Jackass." As far back
as 1868 or 1869 (a record of the exact date not having been kept,
it is only certain that it was before 1870), two young birds were
taken from the nest on the Currup Currup Pre-emptive Right,
near Mornington Junction railway station. Great care was taken
of them, and they thrived well in captivity, becoming great pets,
on account of the readiness with which they learned to talk and
to whistle tunes. One of the birds turned out to be a male and
the other a female ; the latter layed her eggs fairly regularly as the
season came round, the usual number of eggs being four, though
occasionally she laid five, and rarely six. After the latter event
she was, as a rule, a little seedy, owing, no doubt, to the extra tax
upon her strength. Both the birds did extremely well in captivity,
as is evidenced by the fact that the male bird lived until the 12th
of June last (1897). It can thus be seen that this bird was 28
or 29 years of age. It is Anther interesting to note that the
female bird is still alive and well. The known age of these birds

64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

affords a good opportunity of noting the aged plumage of this
species. It will be seen that the darker feathers of the head and
back have become quite black, and the lighter ones of the chest
and breast quite white, with a half-collar round the neck. The
food of the birds has been raw meat, curds, eggs, and insects,
such as flies, crickets, white grubs, beetles, ants, and ants' eggs.
In the same locality this species has frequently been kept in
captivity for periods of five to ten years, but the above-mentioned
pair are of special interest on account of their age. — A. Coles.
12th Jul}', 1897.

Uncommon Birds. — For at least twenty-five years I have been
a close observer of both the resident birds and those species which
pay annual or irregular visits to my district, but until the present
season I had not seen either of the three species sent for exhibition
this evening — viz., the Porphyry-crowned Lorikeet, the Red-kneed
Dottrel, or the White-faced Storm Petrel. The latter bird was
shot in March last in a bush paddock, distant some eight or nine
miles from the sea-coast. A friend was out quail shooting when
his dog " stood" to a bird. It rose and flew, and after shooting it
my friend remarked that it was quite different from any bird he
had seen before, and kindly forwarded it to me. The finding of
this bird under such unusual circumstances seems to show that
some kinds of sea-birds at times leave their native element and
take excursions on land, as on one occasion I saw an adult
specimen of the Hoary-headed Grebe on dry land, many miles
from any water, and apparently in good health. — G. E. Shepherd.
Somerville, 14th June, 1897.

A New Use for Spiders. — " When Kirby and Spence wrote
their chapter on " Direct benefits derived from Insects," and
recorded the use of insects for food, the use of honey from
bees for the same purpose, the use in medicine, and the
arts and manufactures of blister beetles, insect galls, Coccidas
furnishing lac, wax insects, and the silkworm, the time had
hardly arrived for the extensive collection of ants for the
manufacture of formic acid, or for their pupre as food for song
birds, and we feel sure that they could hardly have antici-
pated an industry in connection with an allied class of creatures
which has recently sprung up both in France and Pennsylvania,
and which consists of the farming of spiders for the purpose of
stocking wine cellars, and thus securing an almost immediate
coating of cobwebs to new wine bottles, giving them the appear-
ance of great age. This industry is carried on in a little French
village in the Department of Loire, and by an imported French-
man named Grantaire, on the Lancaster Pike, four miles from
Philadelphia. This Frenchman raises Epeira vulgaris and JPephila
plumipes in large quantities, and sells them to wine merchants at
the rate of $10 per hundred." Bulletin, No. 7, new series, page
82, U.S. Depart of Agriculture, Division of Entomology, 1897.

THE

Wictovxan tyatxxvali&t.

Vol. XIV.— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 9, 1897. No. 165.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 9th August, 1897. Mr.
T. S. Hall, M.A., one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair,
and some forty members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

Mr. O. A. Sayce reported that a meeting for practical work had
been held on Monday evening, 26th July, when the Rev. W.
Fielder gave a demonstration on the elements of histology. He
showed the general type of epithelium cells found in animals,
and handed mounted specimens to those present.

Mr. D. Le Souef reported that, at the desire of the sub-
committee appointed to consider the question of a close season
for opossums, he had written to the Minister of Customs asking
that the close season should be from 1st June to 31st December
in each year, but so far had received no reply.

A report of the Club's excursion to the Collingwood quarries,
on 17th July, was read by the leader, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., who
stated that about a dozen members and friends attended, and
many beautiful and interesting specimens of zeolites had been
obtained.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following dona-
tions during the past month : — " Annual Report of Trustees of
Australian Museum," 1896; "Transactions Royal Geographical
Society of Australasia," vol. xiv. ; " Transactions Royal Society
of South Australia," vol. xxi , part 1 ; " Proceedings Royal Society
of Victoria," vol. x. (new series), part 1 ; " Fourteenth Annual
Report of Trustees of the Public Museum of Milwaukie, U.S.A. ; "
" Proceedings Royal Society of Tasmania," 1896.

SPECIAL BUSINESS.

In the absence of Mr. J. Gabriel, Mr. J. Shephard moved —
" That the following words be added to Rule 6 : — ' But notwith-
standing this, a member whose subscription is in arrears may vote
at the annual election of office-bearers and committee provided
that the subscription of such member be not more than the
current year in arrears.' " The motion was seconded by Mr. E.
Anderson, and led to some discussion. On being put to the vote,
the requisite two-thirds majority necessary for the alteration of a
rule was not secured, consequently the motion was lost.

66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

PAPERS.

i. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled "Notes on the Birds of the Box
Hill District."

The author continued his remarks on the habits of the birds of
his locality, dealing with the group of Honey-eaters, and illustrat-
ing his remarks with an interesting series of specimens.

Mr. A. J. Campbell, in the course of some remarks on the
paper, pointed out the value of local work, such as that brought
before the Club by Mr. Hall.

2. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, entitled " Notes on the Fantailed
Cuckoo."

In this the author gave a list of the various foster-parents
of the Fantailed Cuckoo so far noted, and mentioned their
habits. He entered into the question of how the cuckoos
deposit their eggs in nests with very small openings, such as the
Acanthizas.

In the discussion which followed, Mr. D. Le Souef said that
he had noticed, during a recent excursion in Croajingolong, a
large number of nests, each containing a young Fantailed Cuckoo,
and in nearly every instance only one of the young birds of the
rightful owner had been left with it.

3. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., entitled " On a Species
of Pluchea from Western Australia."

The author stated that on closer inspection he found this to be
a variety, and not a new species. He then gave a description
of the genus Pluchea, and cited it as one having some of the
most interesting features of the order Composite.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. D. Le Souef read a note on the Pied Crow-Shrike, or
Butcher Bird, Cracticus picatus, Gould — describing its note,
habits, nest, and eggs. Mr. Le Souef also drew attention to the
skin of the White-faced Robin, Pcecilodryas albi/acies, Sharp —
exhibited, the first which had been obtained in Australia. The
bird was shot recently at Somerset, Cape York, by Mr. H. G.
Barnard, and previously had been found only in New Guinea,
from whence the type specimen was described.

Mr. G. A. Keartland contributed a note describing some rare
eggs, several of which — notably the Great Palm Cockatoo — were
exhibited for the first time.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By
Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Zeolites, from Corporation Quarries,
Clifton Hill. By Mr. A. Coles.— Pair of Collared Plain Wan-
derers, Peclionomus torquatus, Gld. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. —
Coloured illustration of Attacus hercules — rare Atlas Moth, North
Queensland— drawn by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. By Mr. C.
French, jun. — Clutch of Comb-crested Parra's eggs, from New

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67

South Wales. By Mr. R. Hall. — Birds and eggs, in illustration
of his paper. By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Eggs of Great Palm,
Western Black, Banksian Black, Leach's Black, Western Long-bill
and Long-bill Cockatoos ; Red-winged Lory ; Yellow-collared,
Ground, Blue-banded Grass, Rock, Orange-bellied, and Elegant
Grass Parrakeets ; Scaly-breasted Lorrikeet ; and Pied and Red-
throated Honey-eaters. By Mr. D. Le Souef. — Skin of White-
faced Robin, from Cape York ; eggs of Pied Butcher Bird, from
North Queensland. By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried specimens
of Orchids : Orthoceras strictum, R. Br., and Prasophyllnm,
Au8trale, R. Br., from Dimboola, new for North-west Victoria.
After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO COLLINGWOOD QUARRIES.
On 17 th July, about a dozen members and friends attended the
Club excursion to the Collingwood quarries. These extensive
quarries belong to the Melbourne corporation, and the material
from them is used for macadamizing the roads. The rock, a fine-
grained basalt, is generally spoken of as " Milestone," and forms
a part of an extensive series of flows which border Melbourne on
the north and west. The rock has been removed to a depth of
120 ft. over a large area, so that the excavation is rather an
imposing one. On the southern side of the quarry the bottom of
the flow has been reached, and the old land surface has been
exposed, but to the north of this a further excavation of about
30 ft. has not yet pierced the basalt, so that the old surface
was very uneven. The former soil, where exposed, is very sandy,
and of a dark, almost black colour. It contains fragments of
wood, but nothing identifiable was found. As is usual in black
sands and clays of this nature, iron pyrites is found in fair quan-
tity, the sulphur of the pyrites being derived from the organic
matter in the soil. The percolation of rain water through this
deposit has in part oxidized the pyrites, and we have thus formed
a basic sulphate of iron, known as copiapite, which forms pale
yellow patches through the dark soil. In other places the oxida-
tion has proceeded still further, and bright red stains of iron rust
are deposited by the little runnels of water.

To geologists, however, perhaps the chief point of interest in
the quarry is the zeolites which occur in the cavities of the basalt,
for there appears to be no locality anywhere where finer crystals
of these beautiful minerals can be obtained. Beautiful as they
are, they are but decomposition products of the original minerals
contained in the basalt. Without going too deeply into the
matter, basalt may be looked at as composed in the main of two
distinct minerals, which are felted together to form a tough rock.
These two minerals are a dark ore known as augite, and a paler
one, usually in long needle-like crystals, known as felspar. Now

68 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

there are many different kinds of felspar, each with a name of its
own, and all differing in chemical composition and in crystalline
form. Still they are closely enough allied to render their grouping
under the one term, felspar, advantageous. They are all known
to chemists as highly complex silicates. The species of felspar
which occurs in basalt contains silicates of alumina, lime, and
soda, the proportions of which vary within certain fairly well-
defined limits. Usually in our lava-flows the crystals are too
small to be seen by the naked eye, but at some localities, as at
Malmsbury, they are as coarse as chopped grass. Felspars are
hard, and scarcely acted on by the usual acids of the laboratories,
but the long continued action of the comparatively weak carbonic
acid carried down by rain water will in time decompose them.
All the soluble parts will eventually be washed away, and the
insoluble residue, combined with water, forms clay. During the
progress of this decomposition other minerals will be formed,
which, under favourable conditions, may be deposited in cavities
in the rock. A common mineral yielded in this way by decom-
posing basalt is carbonate of lime, which may be temporarily
stored away under many forms. Thus at Collingwood one of the
forms of carbonate of lime, known as arragonite, is deposited in
sheaves of brilliant needles, which glint and sparkle in the sun-
light. Another form, known as calcite, occurs in truncheon-like
masses with roughened surfaces, and stained brown by a small
amount of iron in it. The amount of iron may be increased, and
the resulting mineral may entirely fill a cavity in the basalt, as in
the case of the banded, almond-shaped masses so common at
Riddell's Creek.

The handsomest of all the minerals of the quarry, however, are
the zeolites. Like felspars, they are complex silicates, but unlike
felspars they contain a considerable amount of water. If heated
before the blow-pipe they easily fuse, and the escaping water boils
and bubbles, and hence the name, which means the boiling
mineral. Owing to great variability in their composition, their
classification is very difficult chemically, so that they are grouped
on their crystalline form. It will probably be enough to mention
the commoner ones, such as phacolite, mesolite, and phillipsite.
The cavities in which the finest specimens occur are often pecu-
liar, and are found deep down near the quarry floor as well as
nearer the surface. The spaces are such as would be left in
an egg-cup if we put into it an egg somewhat too large to fit
closely. But in the quarry these spaces are turned the other way
up, so that we may come across a dome-shaped mass about as
large as the top of one's head, and on this mass the zeolites and
carbonates occur. There is usually a mossy, velvet-like coat of
arragonite crystals, with here and there one of the truncheon-
shaped calcite crystals of a dark brown colour. Scattered about

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69

are minute translucent pearls of mesolite, with perhaps a few bril-
liant gleaming crystals of phillipsite and great compound crystals
of phacolite, a centimetre in diameter, and looking like rose-cut
diamonds.

We happened to visit the quarry at a time when fine specimens
were common, and loaded ourselves with as much as we could
conveniently carry away. — T. S. Hall.

NOTES ON THE BIRD FAUNA OF THE BOX HILL

DISTRICT — Continued.

By Robert Hall.

(Head before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \2tli April, 1897.)

The Warbler finding peace and plenty in the reeds is Cala-
moherpe Australis, Gould, Reed Warbler, and anglers, who love
the birds or not, know well its merry, active voice as it scampers
everywhere amongst the surging ways of its stately forest, now
here, now there, and always full of song. The nest is unique,
anchored well to three or four reeds, high up from the water
below, open at the top, and with three or four inconspicuous eggs,
which is almost unnecessary, as the deep, ruggedly-lined bowl of
the nest is sufficient to hide eggs with a much less protective
colour.

In the bracken and heath country is occasionally seen the Emu
Wren, Stipiturus 7nalachurus, Lath., one of those reserved forms
that carefully hide themselves and nests from prying eyes. It is
not capable of strong flight, but has rather an enfeebled one, and
the peculiarity of its plumage lies in the looseness of the tail
feathers, there being no barbules to render firm the barbs, which
are the conspicuous resisting material of true feathers. In this
respect they bear a likeness to certain feathers of the Emu.

We now come to a small bird peculiar in more respects than
that of being the only species of a genus found nowhere but in
Australia.

The Little Field Lark, Chthonicola sagittata, Lath. (W.), which
has been previously mentioned as the local " ground tit," thereby
implying its habitat and manner of spending most of its time.
The general colour is olive green boldly bearing sagittate markings,
and the dimensions are roughly speaking less than those of our
house sparrow. The song of the bird is a single harsh note when
feeding as well as two or three pleasant and gentle high-pitched
notes. The young assume the garb of the parents (which is
similar in both sexes) within a few weeks. This I judge from the
difference in call and attention during feeding time shown by the
old birds.

How very carefully the nest is concealed is only known to those
who have sought for it, and one might hunt for days without

70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

success unless the system necessary to the finding of ground birds'
nests is adopted. Patience is the virtue ever to be commended.
Under a small cluster of leaves of any native shrub, and with the
upper portion closely mimicking its surroundings, a dome-shaped,
side-entranced nest is placed upon and partly in the ground, and
of material loosely put together yet with symmetry. The eggs,
which are laid each alternate day, are carefully overlaid with a
uniform dark chocolate layer, and nature has certainly provided
ample protection to the bird through its distant colours ; to the
nest in the manner of its position, and, if as these two were not
sufficient, to the eggs in similarity of shade to their surroundings.
Even a fox, that finds the Sericornis' nest and devours its contents,
will need to use more than its powers of sight to be successful in
its raid upon the young of the Chthonicola.

If only the Superb Warbler (Blue Wren), Malurus cyaneits,
Ellis, could speak to you, without self-praise, of its winning ways,
I certainly would be relieved of the undertaking, but as this, in
other lands so-called " tit-mouse," is next upon my list, I will
commence by stating that this tiny piping bird is associated with
our neighbourhood throughout the year, when we recognize the
typical shrub bird, to be seen at all times.

If you would view the wren at home with its " children," you
must needs be very quiet, for then only will you see the group
slowly travelling along the ground and undergrowth in one direc-
tion, feeding and chatting, the only two duties that at a particular
time seem to bear interest to them. It is then you may see six
to twelve birds ; if fully alive to the situation this is easy ; if the
leading bird assumes flight, then the others will follow in Indian
file, pass a given point, and faithfully keep together, though perhaps
the last of the colony may be late. Mr. Gould, who has very
nicely described the birds, finds a difficulty in attempting to mimic
by words the melodious notes, and, one would say wisely, refrains.
There are first the notes of rollicking fun of the summer bird,
secondly the grand oratorio of the male in spring when he is lead-
ing a charming competitive life, and thirdly the series of thrilling
squeaks when the young have ventured into a gambol upon the
tree-tops which would be quite out of place for those of mature
years.

The female in nesting time will sometimes call as if a tragedy
was taking place, and if, comparatively speaking, such a noise was
to be heard among the human group, immediately there would be
a rush of excited beings to the scene of unusual behaviour.
Through this bird's peculiar crying and imaginary troubled notes
such was the impression made on my mind when basking in the
sun for a few minutes, and sitting upon the top rail of a fence
listening to the varied voices of a score of birds in and about a
thicket. It is in September that the flocks have become broken

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71

in ranks, and the instinct to build their houses, a pair assisting
each other, is born.

Wrens are sensitive. A few seasons past I remember taking
one of the three eggs from the nest, and the bird felt so much
hurt that it did not return to its duty — at least, this is my view of
the matter, comparing it with other birds' actions. In November
of last year a nest had been deprived of its eggs, and the bird did
not again lay in it, but, strange to say, in three days the old nest
was removed gradually, and rebuilt in the same paddock.

During winter months it is not unusual to count a dozen of
which only one bird is in livery, or a group of six ordinary brown
birds foraging along a creek bank ; but it is quite apart from the
ordinary to count twenty-seven sombre-coloured birds in one break
of thicket, with a possible three or four more. In June last I was
favoured with a sight of this vast group of what our boys call the
" blue tit," when the leader flew away with nineteen as imme-
diate followers in single file, and the remainder, feeling themselves
disbanded, with very little hesitation followed in pursuit of the
first contingent. There were no blue birds! Where were they 1
This almost made me think that the male bird does lose its
livery. The commencement of nest-building varies according to
the season, but you may safely look for the workers at their toil in
September, after which the vivacity of the mother is toned, easily
noticed as it rises with trembling pinions from its group of three
or four nestlings. The nest is invariably placed within three or
four feet of the ground, domed, and year after year with little
divergence from the type. One nest placed in grass overhanging a
pond in our garden was the cause of a fatality, as after its first
essay in flight I found one young bird in the water. Occasionally
an egg of the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo will be deposited in a
nest of this species, and my notes refer me to a case where the
nest was deserted by the rightful owner as soon as the migratory
bird placed its red-spotted, elongated oval egg therein. Soon
after a spider watched its opportunity, and spun a web across the
entrance of the house, which proved formidable enough to stay
the proceedings of all other claimants.

The persistence of the wren in rearing one brood in a season
was regularly brought under my notice, the circumstances causing
me great concern on their account. The birds built four nests
consecutively, each being taken by certain boys as they travelled
along the creek on their Saturday morning's visit for vandalism.
The Warblers kept to the same hedge and built a fifth time, but
in a more secret spot, close to the ground, amongst the strong
growth, where they sat upon three eggs in a nest that was only in
parts finished. The usual nest is not a slovenly piece of organiza-
tion, such as could be put together in a few hours, as a wood-
swallow might do hers, but of a uniformity and compactness with

72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

beauty of finish which could only be concluded after another three
days of busy work.

I am able to make a record of another " nearly matured
misfortune," as a Narrow-billed Cuckoo placed an egg in this fifth
nest. Not that I wanted this last egg, but out of sympathy for
the blue wren, I took it away, and consoled the two or three
parties concerned, and with the additional thought that the
spring-nomadic bird was no further interested in the matter
unless possibly in the assembly that would meet for migration
at a later date.

Wrens enjoy fun, especially with the young, and as there appears
to me to be very little humour in a juvenile cuckoo, what a con-
trast a brood in unity must be to one containing a stranger.
Fourteen days are occupied in incubation and the young fly from
the nest on the ninth to tenth day after " hatching out," and as the
eggs (three or four) are deposited on each successive day there is
uniformity in the stages. The food supply of one district being
richer than another will aid a quicker development, but where
insect larvae are fairly plump the industry of the parents will
always quickly supply the regular and constant wants in infantry
of this interesting nature.

My notes on the Warblers can hardly be called complete
without a few remarks about a sturdy little bird that is better
known to cryptogamic botanists than to other collectors who are
not devoted to ornithology, because it is only while you are hunt-
ing quietly in that particular nature of timber which yields mosses
and lichens abundantly that one is likely to become thoroughly
acquainted with the White-fronted Sericornis, Sericomis frontalis,
V. and H. (W.)

My last visit to the timber frequented by the Sericornis and other
forms enabled me to witness a little scene which showed me the
forms of gallantry on the part of the male Sericornis in his court-
ship are as intense as with the most chivalrous of other birds.
How those two males courtesied before the lady bird you could
not realize without a goodnatured smile, bowing deeply, stately
and continually as competition alone in the majority of cases
forces one or more to do. How the anxious matter terminated I
do not know ; doubtless the knight of better points won the day
and the other went afield for a second trial of his strength.

The call and notes of the bird are sharp, clear, and decisive,
and the activity it displays leads it quickly from place to place,
principally under cover, but occasionally to one or other bush
track when all is quiet.

The place of habitation for its young is lodged among the
coarse grass or overhanging twining plants on creek banks. The
moist spots are sought, and preference is given to ihem at all
times. During September of last year I found on the Altona

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 73

beach a nest made of seaweed, placed in a dead branch almost
enveloped in the aquatic weeds.

By my wish a correspondent, having the opportunity in the
Heytesbury Forest, gave his attention to the nidification, and
made the following observations upon this bird, finding it
to be one of the earliest nesters in his district. Before
any sign of a nest was shown, a Sericornis placed a few
grasses together in a thick-leafed bush, and continued to increase
the mass for thirty minutes, when it discontinued and gave vent
to a number of grating notes to make up for lost vocal time, and
appealed to its mate, who had been hopping about branches
close by watching the operation, for a recognition of its work.
This was at n a.m., and it then adjourned work until 6 a.m. the
following morning, when one hour's work was given to the nest,
during the whole of which time a series of peculiar grating calls
was given forth, and nothing more was done until the same hour
of the third morning (18th September, 1896), when the roomy
cell of homogeneous plant matter received the addition of an
inner wall of another grassy material (mainly old withered
leaves). The bird now made an alteration in the time-table, and
during the fourth, fifth and sixth mornings laboured from about
an hour before noon to an hour after, working leisurely
throughout the time until the lining was completed. On the
seventh day the first egg was laid ; colour — brownish purple
spots and short streaks on a ground of lighter similar shades.
The second egg was deposited on the ninth day of the month,
and the third egg on the eleventh. On the fourteenth the bird
had set itself to the task of incubation.

In regular visits to four nests the eggs were found to be laid
each forenoon early ; the young birds hatched out on the twenty-
third day from time of laying third egg, and the young were able
to fly on the fifteenth day from the breaking of the shell. The
family immediately begins a nomadic life, and the locality of the
nest is left to other birds before the morning of the following
day. During time of incubation the sitting bird leaves the nest
to feed at early morning and evening, and at night returns with a
small feather or some downy plumage, so that gradually the
internal layer of its house is completed to its satisfaction.

In six nests observed in that district, two were lined with the
fur of rabbits, the others with feathers ; all were inclined, with the
entrance protected from above, and all faced the north-east,
which is the fine weather quarter at that period of the year. It
was noticeable that the intelligence of the birds led them to
build the external portion of their dome nest during rain or early
morning, when the wiry grasses were pliable, and the wet
softened material could be the more easily adjusted to the
required shape, while the inner layer was constructed at midday,
when the material was drier.

74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

ON THE SYNONYMY OF PIERIS PERM ALE, DON.

By J. A. Kershaw.
{Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 12th Jidy, 1897.)

The long list of synonyms belonging to this butterfly, which is
generally known as Pieris scyllara, Macl., shows the confusion
that has been created owing to the variability of this species, and
we can hardly be surprised that earlier authors, working under
the disadvantage of having only an odd specimen or two from
which to decide, should have given a new name to what
proves to be merely a variety of an already named and common
species.

Butler, in the " Ann. Nat. Hist.," vol. xvii., p. 231, 1896, re-
cognizing the confusion existing in the synonymy of this species,
endeavours to set us right, but adopts Boisduval's name, lanassa,
who also uses perimale for the variety of this species (" Voy. Astro.
Lep.," p. 56, 1832), and places it under the genus Huphina. I
will not attempt to decide whether or not this genus should be
adopted, but simply use the one adopted by the majority of
entomologists. Butler, at the conclusion of his paper, gives a list
of the synonymy of this species, as he says "corrected to date,"
but omits from it the name ^eriwiafc and scyllara. It is by the
latter name that this species is most generally known to Australian
collectors, and has been adopted by Miskin in his " Synonymical
Cat. of Lep. Rhop. of Aust."

Butler evidently regards perimah as a distinct species, but
whether he regards scyllara as a separate species or has over-
looked it altogether I cannot say, as he makes no mention of
it whatever. I think, however, the latter must be the case, as he
mentions, when speaking of the variations, that " the under surface
of the secondaries and apex of primaries may be white, yellow,
whitey-brown, or earthy brown, but the upper surface only varies
in the number of white spots on the black border." This embraces
the principal variations of the species and includes both scyllara
and perimale, the type of the former of which, according to Mac-
leay, has the under surface of the secondaries white.

Miskin in his catalogue places perimale in his list of synonyms,
and adds a footnote stating that "perimale of Donovan is the
rather uncommon varietal form, with the under side of secondaries
uniform light brown ; hence his name cannot be adopted for the
species." This, coming from such a well-known authority, is sur-
prising, and altogether opposed to the recognized rule by which
the older name takes precedence. Being a variety does not alter
the fact that it is still the same species, and being the older name
by more than twenty years entitles it to precede the other
names.

It is unnecessary to give here a list of the synonymy of the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75

species as it has already been published, but I give below the
three earlier names, to show their relationship to each other : —

Pieris perimale, Don. (Pap. p.), Ins. N. H., t. 20, f. 1
(1805).

P. scyllara, Mad, King's Surv. Aust., 11., App., p. 459, n.
139 (1827).

P. lanassa, Bois., Sp. Gen., i., p. 477 (1836).
I may add that 1 have specimens of the perimale type, having
the under side of secondaries light brown, which show the dark
submarginal band and others which show no traces of it.
Donovan's figure shows this band very distinctly. The under side
of another specimen is yellowish brown on the costa and apical
angle of primaries and the whole of secondaries with the excep-
tion of very indistinct traces of the darker submarginal band,
while others vary from yellow to nearly white. The number of
white spots in the dark border, both on the upper and under
surface, varies considerably. Some specimens show as many as
seven in the primaries, while others as few as two, and in the
secondaries from one to three and four. On the under surface
they vary in a similar way, but in the form with the brown
secondaries they are usually absent altogether, some specimens,
however, showing indistinct traces of one or two.

Pied Crow-Shrike, or Butcher Bird, Craclicus picatus,
Gould. — I noticed this bird on several occasions when at King's
Plains, about thirty miles from Cooktown, North Queensland.
They are very similar in appearance to C. robustics, but are
smaller, and have a totally different note, and it is possible the
two varieties may be found in the same country, although I did
not notice any C. robustus near Cooktown myself, but they are
plentiful at Rockhampton. The bird is found in the open forest
country, and I only heard it utter one note, a single clear, low
whistle, uttered slowly. Gould, on Gilbert's authority, states that
it utters a loud discordant note, but, personally, I only heard the
one sound mentioned. A pair of them had their nest in a large
eucalyptus tree, about 200 yards from the house I was stopping
at, and they did not appear very shy, and were easily approached
within shooting distance. These birds were not very plentiful,
and seem to consort in pairs. They build an open nest, outwardly
composed of sticks, and lined with small twigs and rootlets, and
it is generally placed high up in a large eucalyptus tree. The bird
will sometimes sit close on the nest until the climber is within a
few feet of her, as occurred when the native went up the tree for
the eggs I am now describing, and she then only flew a short
distance to a neighbouring tree, where I was enabled to
secure her. The external diameter of the nest is 6 in.,
and the internal 3^- in. ; external depth 4 in., internal 2 in.

76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

The ground colour of the egg is olive-green, with dark brown
markings of varying intensity, and occasionally a few small black
ones, a few of the lighter appearing as if beneath the surface.
The spots are principally on the larger end. The clutch of three,
before referred to, I took on 18th December, 1896. They
measure — A, 1.16 x .86; B, 1.15 x .87 ; C, 1.14 x .84. — D. Le
Souef, Royal Park, 9th August, 1897.

Rare Eggs. — The following particulars regarding three species
of the eggs exhibited by me at the Club's meeting to-night may
be of interest to oologists. Great Palm Cockatoo, Microglossia
aterrimus, Gmel. This egg is a dull, chalky white, surface
somewhat rough, with a few small excrescences. Length, 2.12
x 1.55 in. Taken early this year in North-East Australia.
Pied Honey-eater, Certhionyx leucomelas, Cuv. Although eggs
believed to belong to this species have been already described, I
have recently had ample opportunity of verifying the correctness of
my labelling, as I not only found the nests, but shot the birds
from them, and took the eggs, in Western Australia. Description —
Ground colour, dirty white, or pale stone colour, plentifully
spotted with dark-brown and pale slate colour, the latter appear-
ing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Size, .8 x .64 in.
Red-throated Honey-eater, Conopophila rvfigularis, Gould. I
exhibit four clutches of these eggs for the purpose of showing the
extent of variation in colour, markings, and size. No. 1 clutch —
Fleshy-white ground, heavily blotched with red, especially at the
larger end. No. 2 clutch — Ground colour, dull white, sparingly
spotted with dark brown at the larger end. No. 3 clutch — White
ground, finely freckled with red. No. 4 clutch are much smaller
than the others, perfectly white, and finely spotted with black at
the larger end. I not only took these eggs myself, but had pre-
viously watched the birds building their nests on many occasions,
as they were all found close to our camp, otherwise I should be
inclined to think they belonged to different species. — G. A.
Keartland. 9th August, 1897.

A New Use for Spiders.— The note which appears under
the above heading in last month's Naturalist might have passed
without criticism — in spite of the fact that it comes from America
— had the writer omitted to give the names of the spiders said to
be employed by the wine merchants. Epeira sclopetaria (E.
vulgaris) and Nephila plumipes are both common in temperate
North America, where they spin large orb-shaped webs in the open,
but could not be induced to spin webs amongst bottles stored in
a cellar. That spiders could be utilized in the manner indicated
I have no doubt, but certainly not either of the species named.
Some species, common enough in Victoria, would do the work
admirably, but nothing less than a Royal Commission shall induce
me to give their names. — C. Frost.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77

A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA.

By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S.

Part XXV.

ARTIASTIS. Meyr.

945. A. tepida, Meyr. (loc. cit., xv., 1,674).
Melbourne.

OCHLOGENES. Meyr.

DISSELIA. Meyr.

*946. D. aleurota, Meyr. (loc. cit., xii., No. 476).
Melbourne.

MACROBATHRA. Meyr.

*947. M. mesopora, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 481).
Melbourne.

*948. M. chrysotoxa, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 480).
Melbourne, Gisborne, Warragul, &c.

*949. M. heminephila, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 483).
Melbourne, Trafalgar.

950. M. desmotoma, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 4S4).
Melbourne.

*95i. M. melanomitra, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 485).
Gippsland.

*952. M. trithyra, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 486).
Near Oakleigh.

952A. M. paracentra, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 182, 1893).

Gisborne.

*953. M. euryleuca, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 487).
Melbourne.

954. M. alternatella, Walk. (Gelechia alternatella, Walk., 644;
Macrobathra alternatella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S W. — (EcopJcoridte, xii., No. 492).
Melbourne (Ascot Vale).

f: 955- M- CONSTRICTELLA, Walk. (Gelechia constrictella, Walk.,
647 ; Macrobathra constrictella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W. — CEcophoridw, xii., No. 500).
Melbourne.

956. M. ceraunobola, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 501).
Melbourne.

957. M. neimiri.omorpiia, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 504).
Melbourne.

78 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

958. M. myriophthalma, Meyr. (loc. cit., No. 506).
Melbourne.

SATRAPIA. Meyr.

959. S. thesaurina, Meyr. {loc. cit., No. 50S).
Melbourne.

Family— GELECH I ADM.

This family, which is well represented in Australia, has received
but little attention as regards classification ; consequently the
following must only be considered as an incomplete part. Mr.
Meyrick has given a good number of MS. names, many of which
are here appended. I have described a few myself which I con-
sidered new. Most of Walker's species of Gelechia belong either
to the (Ecophoridce or Xyloryctidce. There is no doubt that when
Meyrick revises this group there will be a substantial increase in
numbers.

PALTODORA. Meyr.

960. P. orthocrossa, Meyr. (MSS.)

ARISTOTELIA. Hb.

961. A. monostropha, Lower (MSS.)

GELECHIA. Hb.

962. G. thermochroa, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 169, 1893).
Gisborne.

963. G. macroplaca, Lower {loc. cit., 170, 1893).

964. G. centrosema, Lower {loc. cit., 171, 1893).

965. G. strophiopeda, Lower {loc. cit., 105, 1894).
Gisborne.

966. G. cannanella, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne, &c.

967. G. VARIANELLA, Walk.

Gisborne.

968. G. zygosema, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne, &c.

969. G. petrodes, Meyr. (MSS.)
Melbourne.

970. G. heliochrysa, Meyr. (MSS.)
Melbourne.

971. G. lividella, Lower (MSS.)
Gisborne.

972. G. mesochra, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 107, 1894).
•5 Melbourne.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79

973. G. H/EMASPila, Lower (loc ciL, 107, 1894; Gelechia nana,

Lower, loc. cit., 107).
Melbourne.

974. G. micropa, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

975. G. obeliscota, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

976. G. ceramica, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

977. G. deltodes, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 169, 1896).
Gisborne.

978. G. callicoma, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

979. G. solanella, Bdv. (Bryotrapha solanella, Bdv., J.B., Soc

Cent. Hort., 1874; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc N.S.W.
113, 1S79).
Melbourne.

NOTHRIS. Walk.

980. N. dentata, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

COPIDOSTOLA. Meyr.

981. C. dimorpha, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne, Grampians.

YPSOLOPHUS. Fab.
BRACHYACMA. Meyr.
ANARSIA. Zeller.

982. A. inodes, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

PSORICOPTERA. Stt.

I have a species doubtfully referable to this genus.

CROCANTHES. Meyr.

983. C. glycine, Meyr. (MSS.)
Gisborne.

984. C. prasinopis, Meyr.
Gisborne and Ararat.

MAGOSTOLIS. Meyr.
M AC RE R NTS. Meyr.
AT AS TEA LIS TIS. Meyr.
AUTOSTICHA. Meyr.

80 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

CLEODORA (?) Meyr.
LA VERNA (?) Stt.
POGONIAS. Meyr.

985. P. euryplaca, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 171, 1893).
Gisborne.

986. P. heliotricha, Lower (loc. cil., 109, 1894).
Gisborne.

987. P. capnopa, Lower (loc. cit., 109, 1894).
Gisborne.

988. P. trissodesma, Lower (loc. cit., 109, 1894).

Family— ELACHISTID^.

* This family, like the Gelechiadce, requires revision. Mr.
Meyrick, some years ago, gave a resume of the family in " Trans-
actions of the New Zealand Institute," from which I am enabled
to give an outline of the Victorian Genera. Many of the names
are manuscript.

STATHMOPODA. Stt.

989. S. melanochroa, Meyr. (MSS.)
Melbourne, &c.

990. S. crocophanes, Meyr. (MSS.)
Melbourne.

991. S. callichrysa, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 184, 1893).
Melbourne.

PTILOG HARES. Meyr.

992. S. trissodesma, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.)
Melbourne.

LOZOSTOMA. Meyr. (1,047, 1886).

993. L. comptella, Walk. (Tinea comptella, Walk., B. M. Cat,

1,007).
Melbourne, &c.

994. L. steriodeta, Meyr.
Melbourne.

995. L. scal^ena, Meyr.
Gisborne.

996. L. protodoxa, Meyr.
Gisborne.

* Since writing the above I notice that Mr. Meyrick has recently read a
paper before the Linn. Soc, N. S.W., in which a complete revision of this
family is tjiven, but as it is not yet in the printer's hands I cannot make use
of it.

THE

glict avian U a t it v a I i # t*

Vol. XIV.— No. 6. OCTOBER 7, 1897. No. 166.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th September, 1897. Mr.
C. French, F.L.S., the president, occupied the chair, and about
forty-five members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mrs. D. Sullivan, Moyston, intimating her desire to
dispose of the herbarium formed by her late husband, Mr. D.
Sullivan, F.L.S., which contained many valuable specimens, and
asking the assistance of the members in the matter.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club's excursion to Black Rock on Saturday,
21st August, was read by the leader, Mr. J. Shephard, who
stated that a fair number of members attended, and had a very
enjoyable ramble. A visit was paid to some swampy land, where
abundance of pond life, especially Volvox, was obtained, also
some early embryonic forms, probably of Lepidurus. No
botanical specimens of interest were noted.

A report of the Club excursion to Tunstall on Saturday, nth
September, was read by the leader, Mr. G. Coghill, who stated
that an interesting botanical outing had resulted, and regretted
that so few members were able to avail themselves of the Rev. J.
J. Halley's invitation to tea.

On the motion of Messrs. Shephard and Barnard, a vote of
thanks was given to Mr. Halley for his hospitality on the
occasion.

Mr. Shephard reported that a meeting for practical work had
been held on Monday evening, 23rd August, when the Rev. W.
Fielder continued his course on the elements of histology, dealing
with the microscopic structure of the alimentary canal, which
proved most interesting.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following dona-
tions, &c, during the past month : — "Journal and Proceedings of
the Royal Society of New South Wales" for 1896 ; "Journal of
the Bombay Natural History Society," vol. x., No. 5 ; the Geelong
Naturalist for August ; " Records of the Australian Museum,"
vol. iii., No. 2 ; " Description of Some New or Little Known Birds'
Eggs from Queensland," by D. Le Souef; Nature Notes,

82 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

August, 1897 ; five French pamphlets descriptive of ants,
wasps, and bees, by Charles Janet, and Lee's "Vade Mecum"
(purchased).

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Cecil Ryan was duly elected a
member of the Club.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S., entitled "Notes on a Trip to
Brisbane."

The author briefly noted the more striking contents of the
Botanical Gardens and Queensland Museum, Brisbane, and also
referred to the work being done at the Australian Museum,
Sydney, and by the Government Entomologist of New South
Wales.

In the discussion which followed Mr. C. Frost gave a short
description of the manner of producing the casts of snakes at the
Sydney Museum, so highly spoken of by Mr. French. Mr. Le
Souef stated that the casts are now made of a more plastic
material than at first adopted, thus giving even more lifelike
results.

2. By Mr. VV. H. F. Hill, " Notes on Some Victorian Case
Moths," Part I.

The author gave a detailed description of four Victorian Case
Moths — viz., Metura elongata, Saunders ; Etometa ignobilis,
Walker; Clania tenuis, Rosen.; and Clania Lewinii, Westwood —
with their life-histories and an account of the method of construct-
ing their "cases." The water-colour drawings by which the
paper was illustrated were especially admired.

Professor Spencer congratulated Mr. Hill on the work he had
done, as evidenced in his paper.

Mr. E. Anderson differed from the author as to the time of
emergence of the Lictor Moth, his experience being that it came
out about 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening. He also mentioned the
almost incredible swiftness of flight of the male Physicidse.

Mr. A. Coles and Mr. G. Shepherd confirmed Mr. Hill's praise
of the Silver-eye, Zosterops cotrulescens, for its destruction of insect
pests.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. D. Le Souef read a note describing the habitat, nest, and
eggs of the White-headed Fruit Pigeon, Carpophaga Norfolciensis,
Lath., of N.E. Australia.

Mr. G. A. Keartland drew attention to the recent notices in
Melbourne papers of an application to extend t he close season
for quail, which he hoped would be granted, in which he was
supported by Mr. A. Coles.

Mr. A. E. Kitson read a note describing his observation of

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 83

Rosella Parrots eating the scale insects on the oaks in the
Fitzroy Gardens.

Messrs. R. Hall, C. Frost, and the president spoke on the
matter, the latter saying it was time something to the credit of
the Rosella Parrot could be advanced.

Mr. A. J. Campbell contributed a note on the Large Brown
Petrel, Priqfinus cinereu*, Gmel., with a description of its eggs,
and stated that the Night Parrakeet, Geopsittacus occidentalis, had
been reported from the Mallee, Victoria

Mr. C. M. Maplestone reported some early occurrences of
orchids, &c, near Eltham.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By
Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Graptolites, from Keilor excursion ;
Lhotzkya (native shrub) in bud, habitat Grampians. By Mr. A.
Coles. — Pair Tippet Grebe, Pod iceps Australis, young and old,
the former without tippet. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Aus-
tralian Lepidoptera — Epinephile Rawnsleyi, E. Helena, E.
Joanna, Hyblma purea. Coleoptera — Rhytiphora latifasciata,
Penthea (n. sp.), N.VV. Australia; and photographs of Queensland
scenery in illustration of his paper. By Mr. R. Hall. — 20 species
North Australian bird skins. By Mr. W. H. F. Hill. — Living
specimens of Phrealoicopsis terricola, from Otway Forest, and
coloured drawings in illustration of his paper. By Mr. A. E.
Kitson. — Mounted specimen of Rosella Parrot (with enlarged
upper mandible), oak twigs infested with scale, showing state
before and after the parrots had visited them, in illustration of note.
By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried plants from Dimboola, Galocephalus
lacteus, Less., Thelymitra epipactoides, F. v. M., new for N.W.
Victoria. By Mr. J. Shephard. — Embryo Lepidurus (under
microscope).

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FLORA OF VICTORIA.

No. III.

By F. M. Reader, F.H.R.S. Communicated by C. Frost, F.L.S.

{Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, l±th June, 1897.)
Tiluea exserta, sp. nov., F. M. Reader.

A dwarf, slightly decumbent or erect annual, from under

i^-inch to about 2 inches high, usually of a reddish hue ; oftener
simple than branched. Leaves short, T*g of an inch long, y2 line
broad, very concave, thick, broadly oblong, obtuse, connate at
the base. Flowers pentamerous, solitary or a few together,
mostly short-pedicellate, developed pedicels often recurved,
spreading. Sepals ovate, hardly acute. Petals broadly lanceolate,

84 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

^ of an inch long, from whitish to a deep red colour, about as
long as the sepals. Hypogynous scales obliterated. Carpels
y2 line long, truncate, abruptly short-pointed by the style ; finally
erecto-patent and much exserted ; each carpel usually containing
two seeds. Seeds minute, about +\ of an inch long, narrow
ellipsoid, brownish, shining, faintly striate.

Flowering October. — Sandy desert, Lowan, Dimboola shire,
1892 (rare), F. Reader.

In general appearance the simple forms of this species resemble
T. verticillaris ; when branched it is not unlike T. macrantha ;
in colour, however, it recalls T. purpurata and T. pedicellosa,
with which latter species it may be found associated. It differs
from I1, verticillaris chiefly in the leaves being broader, more
concave, blunt ; in the petals being as long as the sepals ; in the
truncate, abruptly short-pointed carpels beinj; twice as long as the
calyx ; and in the ellipsoid, faintly striated seeds. The seeds of
T. verticellaris are broader and faintly rugular-striate.

This new species is closely allied also to the European Tillcea
muscosa, L., but the petals and carpels exhibit distinct specific
characters. T. exserta may readily be distinguished from other
species by the truncate and abruptly short-pointed carpels being
twice as long as the calyx. In a growing state, and seen through
a magnifying lens, the striking rugosity and translucency of the
whole plant remind of T. verticillaris and T. macrantha, but this
peculiarity is much more developed in T. exserta, and giving the
plant a beautiful and distinguishing character.

The late Baron von Mueller, knowing the advantages I had of
studying this plant in a growing state, suggested that the differ-
ence between it and T. verticillaris could best be recorded from
living plants. I accordingly forwarded to him a description,
accompanied by excellent sectional drawings executed by Mr. J.
P. Eckert, of Minyip ; this, however, after further research, has
required some slight modifications, which are embodied in the
present description.

A NEW ROTIFER— LACINULARIA ELLIPT1CA.
By J. Shephard.
(Read before the Field Naturalists'1 Club of Victoria, 12th July, 1897.,}
On 1 2th December, 1896, during the Club excursion to Heidel-
berg, a Rotifer was found which appears to be new, and I now
propose to describe and name it as Lacinularia elliptica. A
shallow lagoon near the Yarra was found rich in Rotifera, par-
ticularly the colonial forms. Free-swimming clusters were very
numerous, and a large number were obviously L. nutans, and this
nearly caused the oversight of the subject of this paper. This

■^0%

Fig. 3

J. Shephard, del.

Fig. I. — Ventral view (drawn from preserved specimen)
Fig. 2. — Lateral view (from life).
Fig. 3. — Trophi.

LACINULARIA ELLIPTICA

(NEW ROTIFER).

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 85

species is often met with in quantities, and it is now evident that
more than two or three specimens should be examined before
concluding that only one species is present. Happening to take
home a. few colonies, examination revealed that two species were
present. L. nutans undoubtedly, and a form on a cursory
examination resembling it sufficiently to suggest the hypothesis
of its being a stage in the development of L. natans ; but
careful examination brought out decided points of difference.

L. elliptica, as I name it is in free-swimming colonies of ellip-
tical form, each colony possessing a distinct and substantial axis,
to which the individuals are attached. When a colony is broken
into two portions by the axis parting, as happened in mounting
some of the specimens, the animals, being so closely packed,
spread out and over the broken end, and the cluster then appears
a smaller but complete colony as before. Possibly the colonies
multiply in this way, the axis increasing in length until separation
between two portions of it is effected. Surgeon Thorpe,
R.N., F.R.M.S., describes and names Lacinularia racemovata
("J. R. M. S.," 1893, p. 150), agreeing in the form of the
cluster with L. elliptica, but differing in the features of the
individuals. The axis or trunk of the colony is as thick as
the body of an individual Rotifer, and when the animals are
detached shows distinct scars at the points of attachment, in this
particular resembling L. ■pedunculata, described by me in the
Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii. (1896), p. 22.

L. ellij)tica would be well simulated if the peduncle of a
young colony of L. peduncvlata was cut, and the colony set free.
The new form has surrounding the axis a matrix of adhering
gelatinous tubes, very transparent and easily overlooked. The
body of an individual is of the usual elongated form, the corona
being circular, and its plane is placed at an angle with the lateral
plane of the body ; but when living the corona is thrown back
so as to bring the mouth to the front, and the corona is then
brought parallel with the length of the body. A dorsal gap in
the ciliary wreaths could not be detected. Two minute antennas
are seen when the ventral aspect is viewed, placed very laterally
and about the level of the mastax. The neck is about half the
width of the corona, and from it the body expands to nearly the
width of the corona, and then gradually tapers away to a narrow
foot which shows no expansion at its extreme end, and appears
as though broken off the axis of the colony. This tapering is,
however, interrupted at the middle of the length by a definite
constriction and a slight swelling on either side of it. Two
eyes are present, placed below the secondary wreath, possessing
clear lens-like and red pigmented portions. The tropin do not
show any departure from the type of the genus. Of the internal
organs the mastax and gastric glands show no peculiarity ; the

86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

alimentary tract is distinctly divided into stomach and intestine.
Just above the constriction which marks the commencement
of the peduncle is a ring of strongly developed foot glands,
probably accounting for the amount of material in the axis
of the colony. These glands are very marked, and together
with the constriction differentiate the species from all others
of the genus I am acquainted with. The species more nearly
resembles L. racemovata (Thorpe) than any other, the points
of agreement being the form of the colony, position of the eyes
and antennae — taking the ventral figure given by Thorpe —
differing in the form of the corona, the trophi, and most
markedly by possessing the constricted trunk and strong foot
glands, Surgeon Thorpe's figures showing no trace of these
features.

Mr. W. Stickland has very kindly drawn on wood and
engraved the figures.

The specific characters may be summed up as follows : —
Clusters elliptical, with well-developed axis ; gelatinous adhering
tubes. Corona circular, slightly wider than body. Dorsal gap
absent, or very minute. Antennas, two, minute, ventral, but
wide apart. Body constricted at commencement of peduncle.
Foot glands strongly developed. Dimensions : — Individuals,
length .65 mm., breadth .085mm.; corona, .1 mm. across;
trophi, .032 mm. across ; ova, .09 x .047 mm. Habitat —
Heidelberg, Victoria.

A PEEP INTO THE ROCKY POOLS OF SORRENTO
AND QUEENSCLIFF.

Part II.
By Henry Thos. Tisdall.
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \2th Jidy, 1897.)
The green seaweeds which I described in my last paper as being
the principal denizens of the first pool uncovered by the receding
tide are not so common in the half-tide pool. The lovely
Padinse, with their changeful hues of green, grey, and purple,
immediately catch the eye. They grow on the rocks on the sides
of the pool, and seem to have a gentle undulating movement,
even in the most placid water.

If we lift up some of those great olive-green masses of seaweed
we shall find beneath them fronds of Ceramium. These are
thread-like, jointed, and constantly forking into branches, the tips
of the filaments curling towards each other in a curious manner.
Under a low power the filaments appear like net-work of pink and
white, while the joints are almost transparent.

Some species of Ceramium are quite scarlet, and the fertile

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 87

fronds are covered with capsules containing seeds, and called
favellse. These favellse are generally surrounded by hair-like
leaves, which curl around them in such a manner as to give them
the appearance of a rosebud with scarlet sepals. If a transverse
section of a branch be examined tetraspores will be found, forming
a complete whorl around the centre, but beneath the surface.
Upwards of nine species of Ceramium were found by the writer
at Ocean Grove, but only two of these in the half-tide pool ; the
remainder grow in deep water, and were obtained as drift after a
storm. While we have been examining the seaweeds of this pool
the tide has been receding, and we can pass on to those pools
that are uncovered at low water mark. At the bottom of this
hole we may see quantities of Hormosira — that is, the bladder
wrack, described in my first paper. If examined closely, curious
little seaweeds may be seen growing out of the conceptacles of
the air bladders. This is a parasitic plant, Notheia anomala, and
it is only found on Hormosira. Now this is a very curious
phenomenon. In the first place Notheia belongs to the division
of seaweeds termed Fucaceae, none of which (except this) are
parasites. It is only found on Hormosira, which also belongs to
the Fucacese, and lastly it springs from the reproductive organ of
that plant, namely, the conceptacle. Harvey, in the fourth volume
of the Phijcologia Australica, says : — " The Notheia grows con-
stantly from the spore cavity of the Hormosira, and its fronds,
however different in aspect, have just so much affinity in develop-
ment with those of Hormosira that one is tempted to guess at the
possibility, at least, of this parasite being an abnormal proliferous
growth from the hymenium of the nobler species. Were the
occurrence of Notheia rare, such a view would be strengthened ;
but it is far too common along a great extent of coast, and far too
regular in its development to favour such an opinion, in the
absence of direct evidence of its truth." Here there is a problem
for some of our members to elucidate. Professor Harvey had not
our advantages of observing this plant in its native home season
after season. I therefore trust that any of us who live or spend any
time by the sea may take every occasion of watching the develop-
ment of this seaweed. It is easily found, and as the Hormosira
is firmly fixed to the rock, the same plant can be noted time
after time.

In this pool the brown seaweeds are to be found in abundance,
amongst others the smaller species of Sargassum. These require
careful attention to perceive them, for Mr. Bracebridge Wilson, in
his list of Victorian Algne, published 1866, only enumerates two
as being found by him during his dredging operations in Port
Phillip Bay and Bass Straits ; while the late Baron von Mueller,
in the eleventh volume of the " Fragmenta," mentions the names
of only four as being found in Victoria. Since that time (1880)

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

the number of specimens in the Botanic Museum must have
been wonderfully increased, as I was able to identify no less
than sixteen separate species. These were nearly all found by
me amongst drift at Ocean Grove, on the morning after a severe
storm. On the rocky sides and bottom of the pool brown fan-
shaped seaweeds, Zoonaria, may be observed ; they are very
beautiful, and vary greatly in habit, Z. nigricans forming an
entire thin leaf fastened almost sessile to the rock, and marked
with zones of different shades. In other species of Zoonaria the
frond becomes more and more divided until in one, Z.
canaliculate*, it forms a mass of branching threads, putting one in
mind, except from its brown hue, of Cladophora. I was
fortunate enough, to discover nine species of this genus. They are
very easily identified in consequence of their woolly roots and
zone-like markings. Their only mode of reproduction seems to
be by spores, which grow on separate spots on the frond, each lot
making a kind of sorus formed of spores and specialized hairs
called paranemata. From the outside rocks one may gaze down
into the deep water formed by the rush of the tide between
neighbouring rocks. This is the home of the Laminariaceae.
One can see them forced backwards and forwards with the swift
current, now floating gracefully with the stream, then a furious
returning eddy takes them suddenly up, and, lifting their huge
fronds to the surface, dashes them against the rocks.

Nothing but these extraordinary plants could stand the
violence of the waves. They are fastened so strongly to the
solid rock that only the destruction of the rock itself can remove
them, while their long thin stems are stronger than the stoutest
rope. We have only two genera, neither of which is found in
Europe — Macroci/stis pyrifera and Ecklonia radiata. Darwin,
in his "Journal of a Voyage Round the World," speaking
of Terra del Fuego, mentions Macrocystis thus: — "The plant
grows on every rock from low water mark to a great depth, both
on the outer coast and within the channels. I believe, during
the voyage of the Beagle, not one rock near the surface was
discovered which was not buoyed by this floating weed. The
good service it thus affords to vessels navigating near this stormy
land is evident ; and it certainly has saved many a one from
being wrecked. I know few things more surprising than to see
this plant growing and flourishing amidst those great breakers,
which no mass of rock, let it be ever so hard, can long resist.
The stem is round, slimy, and smooth, and seldom has a
diameter of so much as an inch. A few taken together are
sufficiently strong to support the weight of the large loose stones
to which, in the inland channels, they grow attached ; and yet
some of these stones were so heavy that, when drawn to the
surface, they could scarcely be lifted into a boat by one person."

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 89

The Macrocystis pyrifera is certainly the highest plant in
the world, for Harvey says it has been estimated at from 500
to 1,200 feet long, but he thinks an average of these, say 800 feet,
would be correct. As the stem increases new leaves are con-
stantly formed at the apex, the old leaves never being renewed,
so that in time it becomes a huge brown vegetable rope crowned
by leaves. The leaves are lacerated in a peculiar manner. At first
the terminal leaf is very broad and splits up into ribbons, com-
mencing near the edge furthest from the stem ; these ribbon-like
leaves form long petioles, which swell out into air bladders and
thus support the plant.

The reproduction of this enormous vegetable is effected in the
very simplest manner. At its base, on the rock, a few small radical
leaves make their appearance. On these may be observed small
cloud-like patches. These, when viewed under a good lense, turn
out to be ovoid transparent spores closely packed with hairs, both
interspersed amongst them and completely surrounding them. No
reproductive organs have been observed on the main plant, so
that the longest vegetable in the world comes from a spore that
can barely be distinguished by the naked eye Other large plants
which may be seen are Cystophora. These are anchored to the
bottom, waving their great arms abroad and lashing themselves to
ribbons against the rocks.

If the larger seaweeds be carefully examined immense numbers
of diatoms may be found adhering to them.

These microscopic plants are unicellular, and are completely
covered by beautifully marked . frustules, as they are termed.
Frustules are formed of silica, and are really complete shell-;, each
plant having two shells, the edge of one shell fitting over the
other in the same manner that a lid fits over a box. Where the two
edges overlap is termed the girdle. The chlorophyll in diatoms
is completely masked by a matter called diatomen, which changes
it into a rich brown colour. The mode of reproduction is peculiar.
Each half of the plant separates slightly from the other and each
produces a bud. These buds grow until each is equal in size to the
half that produced it. One old half and a bud then separates from
the rest, and thus we have two new plants from one old one.
Amongst the brown seaweeds we find a near approach to the
structure of land plants. Most other Alga? are formed from the
simple cell, either as unicellular, cell filaments, cell plates, or cell
masses, but in Fucus and allied plants, although there are no
actual vascular bundles, still there is a difference of tissue, the
central cells being elongated and loose, whilst the outer ones are
close and short. Here, also, we see the nearest approach, in
appearance at any rate, to roots, stems, and leaves, these organs
being entirely wanting in seaweeds.

But it is the morning after a storm that the seaweed collector has

90 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

his real chance of becoming acquainted with these strange plants.
He must, however, rise betimes, before the treasures washed up
by the storm are again taken back into the depths slowly and
surely by the succeeding tides. Suppose we are in time, behold
the whole shore strewn with heaps of seaweeds — seaweeds quite
unknown to us before — growing as they do in the vasty deep.
Green, brown, olive, pink, scarlet, black, and even white seaweeds
are lying absolutely in thousands. We hardly know where to com-
mence— what to notice !

Let us examine one of the commonest red seaweeds : it is
named Callithamnion. The form is thread-shaped, branched ; in
some instances the roots form a mass of fibres. I picked up
twenty different species of this family. They are all beautiful, gener-
ally of a bright red or scarlet.

Although the red seaweeds do not attain the size of the
olive or brown ones, still they do attain a considerable size, and
the delicacy of their texture places them in the front rank for
beauty.

Few plants in land or water can compare with the lovely
C landea elegdns of Bass Strait.

A common method of reproduction amongst red Algae is by
special cells borne either in the branches or in slight enlargements
on the edge of the frond. These cells usually break into four and
produce bright and red motionless spores, which are known as
tetraspores. From these new plants arise.

The other method of reproduction is by special organs called
antherids and procarps. The antherids are borne at the ends of
special branches, and produce pollinoids, which are simple globose
cells, that float about in the water as pollen grains do in the air.
The procarp is also borne on a special branch. It consists in its
simplest form of a single cell, the cystocarp, with a long hair-like
prolongation, which is termed a tricogyne. The floating pollinoid
attaches itself to the tricogyne, and their union fertilizes the cell,
which in time produces not one, but several, new plants.

But it is time to return to our storm-tossed seaweeds and notice
how their prototypes are utilized in other parts of the world. If
this seadrift were on the shores of Europe, hundreds of carts
would beat work removing them to manure several kinds of crops,
principally potatoes. Then, again, that red-leaved Ulva (Porphyra),
is used as food in the west of Ireland and Scotland under the
name of laver. A close relative of one of our red seaweeds,
Chondrus crispus, is called Carrageen, or Irish Moss, and is largely
employed in the preparation of jellies and blanc manges. That
olive-green Halymenia embraces a species, //. palmata, which is
used in Kamschatka to make a fermented drink, and in Ireland
the same plant is utilized in a sweetmeat preparation.

This beautiful Gelidium is well worth notice ; it is edible, and

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91

makes splendid jellies, but the most interesting thing about it is
that in China and the East Indian Islands it is used by swallows
for the construction of their nests. The following extract is taken
from Burnett's "Outlines of Botany" : — " It has been estimated
that 242,400 lbs. of birds' nests, worth in China nearly ,£300,000,
are annually exported from the Indian Archipelago." The nests
are dried and packed in small boxes. The nests, according to
Mr. Crawfurd, are obtained in deep and damp caves, and are
most esteemed if taken before the birds have laid their eggs.
The finest nests are the whitest. They are taken twice a year,
and, if regularly collected, the produce is very equal, and the
harvest very little, if at all, improved by being unmolested for a
year or two. The high price is, of course, occasioned by the
danger and difficulty of obtaining the nests. Some of the caverns
are extremely difficult of access, and the nests can only be
collected by those who have been brought up to the work. In
one place the caves are only to be approached by a perpendicular
descent of many hundred feet by ladders of bamboo and rattan,
above a sea rolling violently against the rocks. When the mouth
of the cavern is attained, the perilous office of taking the nests
must often be performed by torchlight, by penetrating into the
recesses of the rock, where the slightest trip would be instantly
fatal to the adventurers, who see nothing below them but the
turbulent surf making its way into the chasms of the rock. —
Shirley Hibberd .

We noticed before the different colours of the seaweeds, and
that these differences must have been occasioned to a certain
extent by the depth of the water in which they grew. And we
may now further notice that the structure, reproduction, and
colour are closely related. First let us distinctly understand that
all the colours are only a masked tinting of the all-pervading
green chlorophyll. In shallow water we find steel blue unicel-
lular plants, reproducing by division (Cyanophycese) ; also green
seaweeds, either filamentous or formed of cell plates, and repro-
ducing by spores or gametes (Chlorophycese). In deeper water,
brown seaweeds formed of cell masses and reproducing by anthe-
ridia and oospheres (Phaeophyceae) ; and, lastly, red seaweeds
growing in deep water, with a more complicated structure, and
reproduced by pollinoids and cystocarps.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES.

Brown Petrel (Priqfinus cinereus, Gm.)

The Large Brown or Great Grey Petrel frequents the southern
seas, being most numerous between the 30th and 55th degrees
of south latitudes. Gould, on his voyage to and from Australia,

92 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

obtained many specimens of the bird. This makes it more
inexplicable why his figure (" Birds of Australia," folio, vol. vii.,
pi. 47) was not coloured truer to life. The bird is made to
appear grey instead of light brown.

Gould remarked that the powers of flight of this fine sea-bird
are exceedingly great, and in flying over the ocean it often
mounts higher in the air than any other member of its group,
and descends again with the utmost eagerness to seize any fatty
substance thrown overboard. Its actions and flight differ
slightly from those of the other petrels, and more resemble those
of the albatrosses.

According to Professor Hutton, the Brown Petrel is very
common at sea from May to August, but retires to Kerguelen
Islands and other places to breed in September and October.
Each pair burrows horizontally into the wet peaty earth from 2 to
18 feet. At the end of the hole they form a large chamber and
construct in the centre of it a nest similar, except in size, to that
of an albatross, in the hollow top of which the female lays her
white egg. The bird seldom leaves its burrow during the day,
and from the habit of flying by night is called the Night Hawk
by sealers. Its cry resembles the bleating of a lamb.

The Brown Petrel is considered one of the best divers of its
tribe. Sometimes it poises in the air for a moment at the height
of about 25 feet above the water, and closing its wings takes a
header into the waves. However, under water the bird uses its
wings much in the same manner as when flying.

I have lately received eggs, accompanied with a skin (specimens
here exhibited to-night) of the Brown Petrel, from Macquarie
Island, where they were collected by Mr. Joseph Burton. Mac-
quarie Island is an exceedingly rough and rugged place, almost
devoid of vegetation, situated 860 miles south-east by south from
Hobart. It is about 20 miles long by about 7 miles broad, its
greatest height being 1,600 feet above sea level.

In three specimens of eggs the shape is inclined to oval, more
or less compressed at one end ; texture of shell close and some-
what fine ; surface very slightly glossy ; colour pure when first
laid, but soon becomes soiled with brownish earthy stains.
Dimensions in inches : — (1) 2.8 x 2.04, (2) 2.79 x 1.98, (3) 2.73
x 1.96.

Night Parrakeet (Geopsittacus occidentalis).

It has been reported that this remarkable parrot has been seen
in the Mallee. Whether it has always existed in that locality, or
whether it has been driven there by the recent severe drought
experienced in its more central domains, is a matter of con-
jecture.

A. J. Campbell.

13th September, 1897.

THE

|l t c t or t a Vt |t a t it r a 1 1 # t*

Vol. XIV.— No. 8. DECEMBER 9, 1897. No. 168.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 15th November, 1897. Mr.
C. French, F.L.S., the president, occupied the chair, and about
80 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Hon. Sec. Australasian Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, enclosing programmes of the meeting to be held
in Sydney in January, 1898.

REPORTS.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " Transactions of the New Zealand
Institute," vol. xxix., 1896, from the Institute; "Proceedings of
the Linnean Society of New South Wales," vol. xxii., parts 1 and
2, from the Society ; " Botanical Contributions to the Flora of
Queensland," by F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., from the Department of
Agriculture, Brisbane ; and " Ornithological Papers," by Mr. A. J.
North, from the author.

Owing to the inclement weather, the excursion to VVerribee,
arranged for Saturday, 23rd October, did not take place.

A short report of the social picnic held at Beaumaris on
Saturday, 30th October, was given by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who
stated that it had been a great success. Over 50 ladies and gentle-
men, members and friends of the Club, had sat down to tea, after
which some time was spent in recitations, music, and singing, the
party returning by special tram about 9 p.m. Hopes were
expressed that such a gathering might become an annual event.

A report of the Club excursion to Frankston on Tuesday, 9th
November, was given by the leader, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., who
said that a really profitable outing had been spent. Among the
plants obtained were — Drosera binata, D. glandidigera, D.
pygmaea, Lycopodium latercde, Comesperma calymega, and Sebaea
albidijlora. Insects were somewhat scarce ; among those obtained
was a larva of the butterfly Hypochrysops delicia, taken on a black-
wood sapling. Specimens of Epinephile abeona, the Mountain
Brown, were seen, but not captured.

GKNERAL BUSINESS.

A report on the progress of the Mueller Memorial Fund was
made by Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., who stated that the committee of
the Club had withdrawn its delegates from the original Memorial
Committee, and had joined with the Royal and other societies in

>s

pf°

110 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

forming a new committee to carry out the proposal. Professor
Spencer, M.A., stated that a public meeting had been held that
day, which had been very enthusiastic. Numerous promises of
support had been given, and an executive committee elected, by
whom the various proposals for perpetuating Baron von Mueller's
labours will be considered. It is hoped that sufficient funds
will be available to provide (i) for the erection of some
form of statue, and (2) for the endowment of a medal, prize, or
scholarship, to be associated with Baron von Mueller's name, and
to be awarded from time to time in recognition of distinguished
work in the special branches in which he was most deeply
interested, and which shall be open to workers throughout the
Australian colonies.

PAPER.

By Mr. D. Le Souef, entitled " Ancient Animal Life."
The author gave an interesting epitome of the various dis-
coveries which have been worked out, and by means of numerous
limelight views of restorations of the larger forms of animal life
enabled those present to obtain some idea of the shape and size
of the creatures inhabiting the earth in primeval days.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., stated that among some plants
recently forwarded to him by Mr. W. H. Williamson, of Lillimur,
was the male plant of Xerotes juncea, F. v. M., of which only the
female plants had hitherto been found ; also a Tillasa, which,
along with T. adscendens, Nees., had been included by Bentham
under T, verticillaris. He, however, considered them to be three
distinct species.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : —
By Mr. A. Coles. — The Little Australian Eagle, Aquila morph-
noides, Gould, with four eggs. By Mr. C. French. — Fine speci-
men of Eaglehawk, Aquila audax, Lath., from Wimmera ;
drawings of life-histories of Queensland Lepidoptera. By Mr.
C. French, jun.— Rare eggs of Australian Dottrel and Pratincole,
from interior of New South Wales and South Australia. By Mr.
J. Haase. — Larvae of butterfly Xenica achanta. By Mr. F. M.
Reader. — Dried specimens of Shcenus nanus, Benth., from
Arapiles, new for Victoria. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Masked
Barn Owl, Strix Novce-Hollandice ; eggs of Swamp Harrier and
Black-throated Grebe.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

Australian Grasses. — Mr. F. M. Reader, Dimboola, Victoria,
is working up the genera Stipa and Aristida, and is desirous of
obtaining specimens of any species of them, or of any grass, from
all parts of Australia, in order to obtain material for complete
comparisons.

THE VICTOKIAN NATUKALlST. 1 1 1

NOTES OF A TRIP TO BRISBANE.
By C. French, F.L.S.

(Bead before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, loth September,

1897.)

In the following notes, hastily put together, an attempt is made
to give some account of my recent trip to Brisbane, and such
objects of natural history which I was able to observe in the very
limited time I had at my disposal. I have a few photographs
of the scenery around Brisbane, also one of an incident which
occurred in connection with the Victoria regia growing in the
open air at the Botanical Gardens. I was unable to spare time
for collecting, but owing to the kindness of old entomological
friends in Brisbane and Sydney I was able to bring back some
2,000 odd specimens of insects of various kinds ; and these, or
a portion of them, may be seen at any time in my office.

I left Melbourne for Sydney and Brisbane on 12th June,
having been chosen by the Victorian Department of Agriculture
to represent this colony at the Brisbane Fruit-Growers' Gon-
vention. Arriving in Sydney on Sunday morning at 9 a.m., 1
found my old friend Mr. W. W. Froggatt, Government Ento-
mologist for N.S.W., awaiting me. After lunch we visited the
Australian Museum, which, fortunately for lovers of natural
history, is open to the public on Sundays, the Sydney people
being evidently too dense to distinguish the difference (as we
do here) in the crime between visiting the Zoo on Sunday to
see a living monkey and going to the National Museum to see
a specimen of a similar animal who has had the misfortune V>
have been removed from this planet. I noticed a great change
in the Sydney Museum since I was there 18 years ago. The
change is marvellous, and the collection of specimens in spirits,
birds, and marine objects, to say nothing of the splendid casts
of snakes, will ever be remembered by me. As 1 was especially
anxious to see the Paradise Birds, I had to defer this pleasure
until my return from Brisbane ; so I will pass on to the Northern
railway station, at which I booked for Brisbane, arriving there at
midnight on the Tuesday following.

The journey up to Brisbane is most interesting. First the
magnificent Hawkesbury River has to be crossed, then onwards
to Newcastle ; after this the gradients in the line become steeper,
until, at an elevation of 4,500 feet, Ben Lomond railway station
is reached, where the temperature may be described as freezing,
or next door to it. Rapidly descending, we are twice pulled up
by the steam brakes, and upon turning out of our sleeping cars
to ascertain the cause found that the "boxes'' had become
heated ; and after over half-an-hour had been spent with the
steam hose we started off again. We had not got much beyond

112 THE VICTORIAS NATURALIST.

the Queensland border, however, when we were pulled up again,
and a repetition of the " hot boxes " had again to be put up with.
By this time it was getting near daybreak, and, although very
cold, I "turned out" to see the surrounding country, which, as
you approach Toowoomba, is simply magnificent. This line,
which is narrow-gauge, climbs up hill and over dale, sometimes
crossing vast chasms, other times ascending to an altitude of
over 3,000 feet and then down again, and upon looking out
of the carriage windows the engine, first on one side of you and
then on the other, is plainly visible. The line takes the most
marvellous turns, and must have been a most expensive one to
build ; and to those who have never travelled on a similar line a
great treat is in store for them when they visit Brisbane by rail-
way. Having passed through the rich Darling Downs, magnificent
country, we arrived at Brisbane, and although we had notified our
coming, the hostess and everyone else were in bed, so we were on
the point of camping on the verandah until daylight, when a
friendly head was poked out of the window, and, having explained
our position, we were kindly allowed to come in, and had the
doubtful privilege of having to retire supperless to bed.

At daybreak (the day here 1 found breaks a good hour earlier
than in Melbourne) I got up and went for a stroll in the gardens.
The morning (although winter here) was hot, and upon entering
the gardens I could at once realize, that which before I had only
read of, what a tropical country must be like. Here were clumps
of bamboos 60 feet high, with a diameter in some of the stems of
10 inches, and on an island grew magnificent plants, 40 feet odd
in height, of the Traveller's Tree, Ravenalia, the water from
which some of us for curiosity tasted, but did not relish, although
the natives of Madagascar, also travellers who have visited that
island, speak highly of its uses, especially when water is scarce.

The palms here are something to be remembered, Hyophorbe
Verschaffelti, Oreodoxa regia, Sabal, &c, growing in the greatest
luxuriance, the latter's leaves I am sure being as much, or more,
than a man could carry. We were too early, or perhaps too late,
to see the Victoria regia in all its glory, but it flowered here last
season, being the first time this truly magnificent water-lily has
flowered out of doors in Australia. On the leaf, which was 6
feet across, the infant son of the Governor, Lord Lamington, was
photographed. Passing along towards the plant sheds one sees
grand plants of Cocos plumosa, one of the most elegant of the
palm family ; also the Oil Palm, Klaeis Guineensis, the plant from
which most of the palm oil, so largely used in commerce, is made.
One ol the must singular trees in these beautiful gardens us the
Sausage Tree, Kigellia pinnata, from Nubia, where the plant is
held sacred by the natives, the foliage of the tree being arbore-
scent, and belows this the sausage-like fruits hang suspended.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 113

One of the features here are the splendid plants of Poinciana,
also the Poinsettias, which, with their magnificent crimson
bracts, could be seen for a mile distant. It would take me a
long time to tell ycu what I saw in this charming spot, and to one
who had for years been accustomed to grow stove-plants, such as
Crotons, Ixoras,Marantas,&c.,in artificial heat, the pleasure of see-
ing the same kinds of plants growing in the open air must naturally
cause wonder and surprise. Coffee trees, too, were here in full
berry, and appeared to me to take the place of the hollies of the
old land. But here I must stop, and can only say that Nature has
done a lot for Brisbane, the river running alongside the gardens
nearly the whole way, although this in itself is not altogether an
unmixed blessing, as during the great flood, I was informed by
Mr. M'Mahon, the curator, portion of the gardens was 20 feet
under water ; hence it is that many trees, the Moreton Bay pines
especially, have suffered greatly. Having, as I said before, spent
an hour or two in the gardens, the real business part of the trip
had to be attended to, and for a whole fortnight we were kept at
it from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. Still the early morning visit to the
gardens was one at least of the great pleasures of our visit.

Having a few hours to spare, I paid a visit to the Brisbane
Museum, where I saw many things of interest, the ethnological
collection from New Guinea being especially fine. I also met
Mr. H. Tryon, who is Entomologist to the Department of
Agriculture, and with him spent a profitable time amongst his
collections. Unfortunately, Mr. F.M.Bailey, Government Botanist,
was at Cape York, so I did not see him ; but his son was very
good, and showed me anything I wished to see, including his
fine herbaria of Queensland plants.

I was much struck by the absence of wild flowers about
Brisbane, as, although we made several short trips into the
country, only one plant, a Flindersia, was seen in bloom. Birds
were also scarce, and of insects I saw none, save a few butterflies
which were sailing about in the gardens of the Acclimatization
Society, and in which, by the way, some of the finest specimen
plants in Brisbane are to be seen. Brisbane contains many
ardent entomologists, and the many pleasant hours which I
spent with them will not soon be forgotten.

Before leaving Brisbane we went to Redlands Bay, a lovely
spot, and at which place 1 had my first sight of a pineapple
plantation. Picture to yourself miles of these plants, all in full
bearing, and bananas in endless numbers. I was greatly struck
with the rich soil here, but as the captain of the steamer — the
latter kindly lent by the Government — was anxious to get back
before dark, we were only able to make a hurried examination
of the place. Our last trip was to Woombye, on the Northern
line, about 60 miles from Brisbane, which place I had been

114 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

recommended by Professor Spencer to visit. Woombye is a
beautiful place, teeming with vegetation, and is the home of
palms, Staghorn Ferns, Rifle and Regent Birds, &c. ; I saw two
of the latter, both young ones. This must be a veritable paradise
for the naturalist. In the scrubs about Woombye the Whipstick
Palm, Kentia monostachya, grew in profusion, but failed, in my
opinion, to equal the magnificent tree ferns in our own gullies.
The Lawyer Palms (Calamus) are common here, and may be
seen climbing up to the tops of the trees in the jungle. Here,
too, are immense clusters of Staghorn Ferns, and these, together
with epiphytal orchids of the genus Cymbidium, &c, were
perched high up in the forks of the trees. The Wonga Pigeon
is not uncommon here — the whole being, as I have before
remarked, a delightful place for a naturalist. The scrub leeches,
however, are here in great force, while the whole place is moist
and teems with tropical vegetation, and which in the proper
flowering season must look lovely. One of the sights on this
line is the celebrated Glasshouse Mountain, an immense mass of
rock 800 or 900 feet in height, and partly cone-shaped. Some
of the New Zealand and South Australian delegates paid a visit
to the Blackall Ranges, and returned quite delighted with their
visit. The rare butterfly, Epinephile Rawnsleyi, is found in this
district, but it was too early for many insects to be about. The
next day we had to visit the Exhibition, where the Mining Court
and the exhibits from the Agricultural Department were worth
coming a long distance to see. Our stay in Queensland was
now drawing to a close, and visions of the papaw, jack-fruit,
custard apples, mangos, and other tropical fruits were constantly
introducing themselves upon us ; so, having bade adieu to our
kind entertainers, we left for Sydney, where we arrived after a
railway journey of 28 hours.

Upon arrival in Sydney a visit was made to the Botanic
Gardens, where the Curator and Government Botanist, Mr. J. H.
Maiden, F.L.S., an old friend, received me very kindly ; and
great are the improvements noticeable here since my last visit.
I fancy the Sydney gardens must be one of the show gardens of
the world, as all is luxuriance and beauty, and many of the plants
of tropical Australia and elsewhere appear to thrive as well here
as at Brisbane, or even further north. The Australian Museum
was again visited, and I had the pleasure of meeting, for the
first time, Mr. R. Etheridge, F.G.S., the Curator, who kindly
showed me many objects of interest. I also saw Mr. A. J. North,
one of the oldest members of our Club, and by him was shown
the collection of birds, &c, with which I was greatly pleased,
especially with their splendid arrangement, and hardly knew
which to admire most — the mounted specimens or the rich type
collections, admirably arranged as to gradations of species, with

THE VICTOHIAN NATURALIST. 115

notes, &c, &c. The Paradise Birds are very fine ; two especially
— Paradisomis Rudolphi and Schegelia respublica (which I hope
shortly to add to my collection of these birds, now numbering
23 species) — greatly pleased me. The insects, now in charge
of Mr. W. J. Rainbow, are slowly but surely being put in order
and added to, and one cannot help envying this Museum,
with its fine staff of scientific workers, whilst the Cook and
Banks relics must interest everyone. I was much amused at
seeing the collecting bottle formerly used by the great botanist
and traveller, the late Sir Joseph Banks, it being in appearance
not unlike one of the earthenware " water monkeys " commonly
used in houses.

As my time was getting short, I paid a hasty visit — all too
short for me, at any rate — to the fine Technological Museum,
and last, but not least, to the Macleayan Museum, so ably
presided over by my old friend Mr. G. Masters, a Victorian of
the early fifties. The Macleayan collection of insects generally
is undoubtedly the finest in Australia; and the munificent
donations to the Sydney University and other public institutions
testify for all time to the liberality of the late Sir W. Macleay,
the father of Australian entomology. At the office of Mr.
Froggatt, the Government Entomologist, I saw much of interest,
especially the fine series of ants, scale insects, Brachyselidre, and
other insects of economic importance. The breeding cages also
contained many specimens — the dreaded fruit-fly, amongst others.
1 was very pleased with the life-history collections, also with the
practical nature of the work which I saw going on.

A hurried trip to the rich Parramatta district brought my
most pleasant visit to a close, and reluctantly I left Sydney,
its proverbially beautiful harbour, and its rich natural history
treasures. When in Sydney I had the pleasure of meeting our
old club mates, Messrs. A. H. Lucas, M.A., and T. Steel, F.L.S.,
and with them spent my last evening in Sydney, reaching
Melbourne again on the 5th July.

A MUELLER MEMORIAL.
A fund has been started to establish a permanent national
memorial to the late Baron von Mueller. An influential general
committee, with the Mayor of Melbourne as its chairman, and
an executive committee, under the chairmanship of Sir John
Madden, have been formed, while Professor Spencer and Mr. W.
Wiesbaden have consented to act as joint hon. secretaries.

The committee of the Field Naturalists' Club hope that the
members will contribute as liberally as possible to the fund, and
also bring it under the notice of their friends. The hon.
secretary, Mr. G. Coghill, will be pleased to take charge of
contributions and hand them over to the Memorial Committee.

116 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

NOTES.

Lyre Birds' Tails. — A Melbourne furrier was charged at the
District Court on ist November last with having in his possession,
and offering for sale, Lyre Birds' tails. It may not be generally
known that the Game Act renders persons buying, selling, or
having in possession flesh, skin, or feathers of protected native
birds, liable to prosecution. In this case the offender was fined
i os., with i os. 6d. costs. It is stated that other prosecutions
are likely to follow.

Victorian Freshwater Fish. — Specimens of the smaller
Victorian freshwater fish are desired by Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby,
Australian Museum, Sydney.

The Production of Aigrettes. — The use of Egrets' plumes
as ornaments for the headgear of ladies has lately received
severe condemnation at the hands of bird lovers, on account of
the destruction of the nesting birds, and the cruel starvation of
the young which follows the present mode of obtaining the
aigrettes. The Ibis, the journal of the British Ornithologists'
Union, states that the demand for ladies' aigrettes has instigated
attempts to keep Egrets in captivity, and so produce these
much-coveted feathers without unnecessary cruelty ; and in
a recent number of the Bulletin of the French Acclimatization
Society an account is given of a visit paid to an establish-
ment near Tunis, where a large number of White Egrets are
kept in a large enclosed aviary furnished with trees and water.
The conditions are so natural that they nest there, rearing two
broods in each year, in April and June. They are fed very
cheaply on horseflesh, the young birds at first requiring small
fishes, with which the mother feeds them. The precious side-
plumes are shorn twice a year, in May and September, the best
plumes being those of May. The value and lightness of these
beautiful feathers may be gathered from the fact that each bird
supplies only about no grains weight of plumes in the year,
which are worth about i]4 guineas.

CORRESPONDENCE.— THE BLIGHT FLY.
To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist.
Sir, — While engaged botanizing the other day, and enjoying
that instructive pastime, I was bitten by that terrible pest the
" blight fly," the result being severe swelling of both eyes,
suffering of pain and blindness for two or three days, with
consequent loss of sleep and time while the effect of the bite
lasted. Can you or any of your readers give me any information
concerning this fly, or suggest any remedy, preventive or curative ?
—I am, yours, &c, SUFFERER.

[The orchid enclosed in your letter is Chiloglottis Gunnii. — Ed.
Vict. Nat.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 117

A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA.

By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S.

Part XXVI.

CASTORURA. Meyr.
B ATRAC HEDRA. Stt.

997. B. ARENOSELLA, Walk.

Melbourne, Gisborne.

COSMOPTERYX. Hb.
EL AC HIST A. Tr.
LIMNCECIA. Stt.

998. L. phragmitella, Stt. (an introduced species).
Melbourne (near railway station, Spencer-street).

ENDROSIS. Hb.

999. E. lacteella, Schiff. (an introduced species).

I have several other genera of this group, but the above, I hope,
will suffice for classification.

Family— PLU TELLID/E.

The remarks in reference to the two former families are equally
applicable here.

PRAYS. Hb.

YPNOME UTA. Lair.

ENCEMIA. Zeller.

CERATOPHYSETIS. Meyr.

THYRIDECTIS. Meyr.

PLUTELLA. Schrk.

1000. P. ckuciferarum, Zeller (the Cabbage Moth).

EUTORNA. Meyr.

1,001. E. paiiulicola, Meyr. (MSS.)
Melbourne, &c.

1002. E. tricasis, Meyr. (MSS.)
( lisborne.

GLYPHIPTERYX. Mb.
Tins genus is usually considered typical of the family Glyphip-
terygidce, but as Mr. Meyrick has merged them into the PluteUidce
I follow this arrangement.

118 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

*ioo3. G. cyanochalca, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 185,
1887).
Melbourne.

*ioo4. G. cyanophracta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 186, 1882).
Stawell.

1005. G. amblycerella, Meyr. (loc. cit,, 189, 1882).
Warragul.

1006. G. acinacella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 193, 1882).
Warragul.

*ioo7- G. chrysolithella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 229, 18S0).
Gisborne, &c.

1008. G. cometophora, Meyr. (loc. cit., 231, 18S0).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

1009. G. sabella, Newm. (Trans. Em. Soc. Lond., N.S., iii.,

229; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 237, 1880).
Mount Alexander Range.

*ioio. G. meteor a, Meyr. (loc. cit., 237, iSSo).
Gisborne.

ion. G. chrysoplanetis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 238, 1880).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

*ioi2. G. leucocerastes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 239, 18S0).
Gisborne.

*ioi3- G. paL/Eomorpha, Meyr. (loc. cit., 242, 18S0).
Gisborne, Brighton, &c.

APISTOMORPHA. Meyr.

*ioi4- A. argyrosema, Meyr. (loc. cit., 247, 1880).
Near Sandringham.

PHRYGONOSTOLA. Meyr.

1015. P. euthybelemna, Meyr. (loc. cit., 250, 1880).
Melbourne, &c.

^EOLOCOSMA. Meyr.

*ioi6. A. marmaraspis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 225, i88oj.
Gisborne.

EUPSELIA. Meyr.

1017. E. melanostrepta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 223, t88o).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

*ioi8. E. theorella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 222, 1880J.
Melbourne.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 119

*roio. E. satrapella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 222, 1880).
Ciisborne, &c.

*ro2o. K. carpocapsella, Walk. (B. M. Cat., 998 ; Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 219, 1880).
Melbourne.

HYPERTROPHA. Meyr.

102 1. H. CHLCENOTA, Meyr. (/or. cit., 1042, 1SS6).
Melbourne, &c

1022. H. tortriciformis, Gn. (Heliodes tortriciformis, Gn.

Noct., vi., 198, part ix., p. 13 ; Orosana desiimptana,
Walk., Tortrices, 460 ; Anthcecia divitiosa, ib., Suppl.,
77 : Sypertropha tliesaurella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W., 1880, 209 ; //. tortriciformis, ih., he. cit.,
806, 1886).

Melbourne «S:c.

SI MA ETUIS. Leach.

CHOREUTIS. Hb.

1023. C BJERKANDRELLA, Thunb ( Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.,

215, 1880 ).
Melbourne, &c.

Family— TlNEID^i.

NEMOTOIS. Hb.

1024. N. sparsellus, Walk. (N. sparsella, Walk., 506 ; J\T.

sparsellus, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 483,

1893-)
Melbourne.

1025. N. orichalcias, Meyr. (loc. cit., 484, 1893 ; (?) Adda

/aitrella, Newm., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., N.S., iii., 290).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

1026. N. topazias, Meyr. (loc. cit., 485, 1893).
Melbourne.

ADELA. Latr.
SENTICA. Walk.

1027. S. oppositella, Walk. (B. M. Cat., 507 ; (Ecinea Felderi,

Lep., 29, pi. ix. ; (?) Lampronia discistrigella, Walk.,
487 ; Sentica oppositella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W., 488, 1893).
Melbourne,

120 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

CTENO CA MPA. M ey r.
TALEPORIA. Hb.
NARYCIA. Stph.
XYSMATODOMA. Zeller.

IO28. X. STELLARIS, Meyr. (loc. Cit., 493, 1893).

Melbourne.

*i029. X. maurella, Walk. (Tinea maurella, Walk., 483; X.
maurella, Meyr , Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 493,
1893)-
*io3o. X. protorna, Meyr. (foe. cit., 495, 1893).
Sale.

*io3i. X. saxosa, Meyr. (loc. cit., 496, 1893).
Melbourne.

*io32. X. adelopis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 496, 1893).
Gisborne.

*io33. X. Guildingi, Scott (Conozca Guildingi, Scott, Aust. Lep.,
27, pi. ix. ; C. irrorea, Feld., Reis. Nov., pi. exxxviii.,
39, 40; X. Guildingi, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W., 497; 1893).
Melbourne. (Doubtfully Victorian.)

1034. X. heliochares, Meyr. (loc. cit., 498, 1893).
Melbourne.

1035. X. reticulata, Meyr. (loc. cit., 499, 1893).
Fernshaw and Melbourne.

*io36 X. apochroa, Meyr. (loc. cit., 501, 1893).
Brighton.

*io37. X. hamalitha, Meyr. (loc. cit., 502, 1893).
Melbourne.

*io38. X. BASIFERANA, Walk. (Sciaphila basiforana, B. M. Cat.,
350 ; X. basi/'erana, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.,
5°3> 1893).
Kevvell.

*io39. X. cataphracta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 540, 1,893).
Melbourne.

1040. X. characota, Meyr. (loc. cit., 1893).
Melbourne.

LEPIDOSCIA. Meyr.

1 04 1. L. comochora, Meyr. (loc. cit., 509, 1893).
Melbourne.

*io42. L. strigulata, Meyr. (loc. cit., 510, 1893).
(iembrook.

Victorian |tatttralt0t.

Vol. XIV.— No. 7. NOVEMBER 4, 1897. No. 167.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club, and Special Exhibi-
tion of Wild Flowers, in memoriam of its late patron, Baron von
Mueller, was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday
evening, nth October, 1897. Mr. C. French, F.L.S., the presi-
dent, occupied the chair, and about 120 members and visitors
were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr. G. A. Keartland, with reference to the proposed
extension of the close season for quail, suggesting that the close
season should be from 1st September to 1st April instead of from
1st August to 1st March, as at present.

It was decided that Messrs. Best, Campbell, Coles, and Keart-
land be appointed to wait upon the Minister of Customs and
urge the adoption of this suggestion.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club's excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday
25th September, was given by the leader, Mr. J. G. Luehmanm
F.L.S., who stated that there was a good attendance of members,
who spent an enjoyable afternoon. Several devoted themselves
to pond-life with very fair results, while the botanists were suc-
cessful in obtaining Pultencea dentata, Polypompholyx tenella,
Lyperanthits nigricans, Caladenia congesla, and a large number
of other spring flowers.

A report of the Club excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 9th
October, was read by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun., who stated
that the attendance was small, but the result in a botanical sense
was good. About twelve specimens of orchids, including Cala-
denia suaveolens, Pterostylis barbata, and Thelymitra ixioides
were found, besides a large number of the usual spring flowers,
as well as Candollea despecta, Utricidaria dicholoma, and
Phylloglossum Drummondi.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken Messrs. J. B. Luffman and J. A.
Wood were duly elected members of the Club.

^61 7 f

94 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

ADDRESS.

Instead of the usual papers Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., LL.B.,
F.L.S., delivered an address with reference to the career of the
late Baron von Mueller, which was as follows : —

" As to-day is the first anniversary of the death of an old friend
and familiar figure at this annual wild flower show of the Club,
it has been thought appropriate that a few words should be said
in memory of our former beloved and respected patron, Baron
von Mueller, who took so kindly an interest in these exhibitions,
who, on these occasions, placed at the disposal of the youngest
and least learned among us the best stores of his botanical know-
ledge, and who afforded the members of our Club, whenever any
question of difficult identification arose, the aid of his unequalled
experience and memory.

" I have been asked to speak some few words expressive of our
appreciation of our old friend and fellow-member, from my con-
nection for the last three or four years of his life with the depart-
ment of which he was so great an ornament. It will not be
expected that I should be able to add anything new to the notices
which have appeared during the past twelve months of Baron
von Mueller's life and work, or that I should now give a detailed
account of either. I can only bear witness to the unwearied zeal
with which the great botanist carried out the routine and attended
to the business of his office, to his punctuality and thoroughness
in correspondence, his readiness to supply information and advice
to correspondents in other countries in regard to the economic
uses of our indigenous plants, and the pride he took in the
successful cultivation in other parts of the world of our useful
timber-trees and valuable forage plants.

" In regard to this latter characteristic, Professor M'Owan, the
writer of a notice in the Cape Argus, mentions how ' Von Mueller
prided himself, not unworthily, upon having been the means of
dotting the treeless plateaux of the Cape with the varied species
of eucalyptus, and its sandy flats with the golden wattle ; ' he
says that our old friend's ' most characteristic letters were those
expressing his enthusiastic delight at the success attending the
acclimatization of Atriplex nummularia from his little packet of
half a dozen seeds.' I may myself add that in several of the late
Government Botanist's letters to me he drew my attention, with
pardonable and justifiable pride, to the extensive culture and
great benefit derived from the dispersal of another salt bush
(A. semibaccata) over the alkaline plains of portions of California.
" Mr. W. Botting Hemsley, in an article in Nature last year,
dwelt upon this characteristic of Baron von Mueller, and upon
his devotion to what may be called the utilitarian aspects of
botany in the following words : — ' Mueller was much more than a
botanist and geographer ; he was always a promoter, and often

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 95

the originator, of movements for the scientific, social, and
material welfare of the country he had made his home, and in
spite of his not being a practical horticulturist, he did more
probably than any other person to promote the commercial — that
is to say the useful — development of cultural industries in Aus-
tralia, and more than any other person in the diffusion of useful
Australian plants in other parts of the world ; he had probably a
wider correspondence than any living botanist, and few are the
establishments that have not been in some way benefited by him.
The value of his work consists largely in the fact that he did
exactly the kind of work that was required in a young country
for its material as well as for its moral development.'

" Baron von Mueller was in many respects fortunate in his life.
After having shown as a lad a strong taste for botanical studies
in Schleswig-Holstein, the delicate state of his health drove him
to the shores of Australia, whose genial climate restored him to
such robustness as allowed him to work unremittingly at his
favourite studies, enabled him for several years to undergo not
inconsiderably physical hardship, both in the hot climate of the
north of the continent, and in the cold and snows of our Aus-
tralian Alps, and allowed him to die in harness at the ripe age of
seventy-two. Not only was the Baron fortunate in possessing
sufficient strength, aided by most temperate and abstemious
habits of life, to spend fifty years in the continuous prosecution
of somewhat laborious work ; but he was fortunate in receiving a
position, when still a young man, which enabled him to devote
his life to his special study, and which placed him for many
years in a most favourable position for widening his knowledge,
obtaining botanical information, and publishing the results of his
work.

" It is well known how eagerly, how zealously, and how
indefatigably Baron von Mueller availed himself of his oppor-
tunity, and how, not content with utilizing the funds granted by
Parliament to the Government Botanist's Office, he spent freely
from his own salary in the purchase of books, and in subsidizing
private collectors.

" For the first three or four years after his official appointment
Dr. Mueller had what must have been to him the keenest of plea-
sures— the exploration of a new botanical region in our own Aus-
tralian Alps, and a glance through the key of Victorian plants will
show how well he employed his opportunity, name after name of our
alpine plants having been given by him as their first discoverer and
describer. In 1855 Dr. Mueller also accompanied the Gregory
Expedition for the exploration of Central and Northern Australia,
and so had unequalled facilities for studying a nearly unknown
portion of the flora of the continent — facilities which, it need not
be said, he utilized to the utmost. Baron von Mueller showed how

96 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

highly he esteemed the advantages of seeing plants in their native
regions, and himself collecting them by making two trips many
years later to Western Australia, one in 1867, and one in 1877,
although at the time of the latter excursion he was over 50, and
might reasonably have been excused from exposing himself to the
discomforts and privations of rough bush travelling.

" In one respect our late Government Botanist was not so
fortunate as in those to which I have referred. He had not
what he must have keenly desired — the pleasure and distinction
of writing the history of Australian plants. Though in 1861 he must
have been far and away the botanist who had the most complete
and most practical knowledge of the Australian flora, he yielded
his claim to George Bentham, and afforded the latter every
assistance in the production of the ' Flora Australiensis.' This, as
has been well observed, ' showed a fine trait in Baron von Mueller's
character. No doubt the preparation cf such a work had long
been the dream of his scientific life, and his labours had been con-
tinuously directed towards its accomplishment for many years.
It should always be remembered to his honour that in this trying
position he stood aside, effacing himself and his natural claims to
be considered.'

" It is one of Baron von Mueller's claims on our admiration
and affectionate remembrance that he united in an uncommon
degree a devotion to two branches of botany not usually
associated ; while he possessed a thorough knowledge of the
systematic botany of the phanerogams, and was delighted to
discuss exhaustively the claims of genera to be regarded as distinct
or to be united, the affinity and grouping of genera and orders,
and the relation and sequence of species, he also devoted no
small amount of time to economic botany, and was the author of
the most popular and widely-read of recent treatises on this subject,
"The Select Plants;" and as early as 1853 he recommended as
a new industry the distillation of oil from eucalypti, and a few
years later advocated the planting of trees of this genus in Europe
and other parts of the world for forest purposes, so that as a
result of his advocacy, and that of Ramel, Thozet, and others,
various species are now found extensively planted in South
Europe, Algeria, the Transvaal, New Zealand, India, Jamaica,
California, Mexico, and South America.

" Certainly we may look back on the career amongst us of
Baron von Mueller as one in most respects worthy of the admira-
tion and imitation of those of our young students who are fired by
the noble ambition of extending the boundaries of knowledge in
some branch of science, of applying its teachings to increase the
well-being of society, and of earning the praise of their fellow-
men. I have placed the love of fame last among the motives for
leading the nobler life — some may be disposed to say this love is

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 97

of too strong a personal and self-regarding nature to deserve
encouragement or commendation ; but surely such a view is
inconsistent with observation of the life and writings of the most
eminent of mankind. As the poet, who perhaps of all poets had
the highest aim in life and the strongest sense of duty, says —

" ' Fame is the spur which the clear spirit doth raise
That last infirmity of noble minds,
To scorn delights and live laborious days.'

" The love of fame, as well as a strong sense of duty, was no
doubt a guiding motive in the life and work of the famous
botanist whom we commemorate to-night ; would that such an
ardent desire for the praise of those who have earned, by their
own distinction, the right to award it were more common
amongst us, provided it led to and were accompanied by the
same high ideal of life, the same unwearied industry, the same
temperance and self-denial, the same liberality to the needy, the
same love of country and mankind as the Baron exhibited and
carried out in his life !

" Here among the wild flowers, which von Mueller loved so well,
some of which would no doubt bring back memories of his early
hardships when he was winning his spurs by his botanical ex-
plorations of the dry north-west of this colony, and the adjoining
territories of South Australia, others of which would bring to
mind his solitary wandering over the alpine and sub-alpine
plateaux of the Australian Alps, and the more luxuriant valleys
of East Gippsland, we shall do well, forgetting the foibles which,
like all of us the Baron no doubt had, and which the very
simplicity and openness of his character rendered perhaps more
conspicuous — we shall do well, I say, to treasure the fine
example he set (when so many were engaged in a mad rush to
gain wealth, and to squander it on ignoble pleasures) of single-
minded devotion to science, and of enthusiasm to utilize its
teachings for the benefit of his fellow-colonists, and to cherish the
memory of the first Government Botanist of Victoria."

The president and Mr. J. G. Luehmann referred to the ex-
cellent way in which Mr. Topp had spoken of Baron von
Mueller's life-work, and, on the motion of Messrs. Barnard and
Luehmann, a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to
him.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. G. E. Shepherd read a note on the actions of a White-eared
Honey-eater, Ptilotis leucotis, Lath., which had followed him
while riding, and plucked hair from his horse's back to use in the
construction of its nest.

Mr. A. E. Kitson reported having seen a large rabbit a few
months ago on the Kosciusko Plateau, at an elevation of nearly

98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

7,000 feet, a region which is deeply covered with snow and ice for
several months of the year.

EXHIBITS.

The exhibits of the evening consisted chiefly of wild flowers,
which are recorded in a separate article. By Mr. A. Coles. — An
Australian Goshawk, Astur approximans, undergoing change of
plumage, the tail showing four of the old feathers of a light
brown colour, and eight new feathers of a dark leaden colour, the
same change being noticeable in each wing. There is, however,
no sign of the supposed change on the breast from spots to bars,
the bird being perfectly marked with bars from the bill down-
wards, thus tending to prove the evidence already produced (see
Vict. Nat., xiv., p. 43) that this bird never has a spotted breast.
By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Nests and Eggs of Brush Wattle-Bird,
Anellobia mellivora, Lath. ; Frontal Shrike-tit, Falcunculus fron-
tatus, Lath. ; and Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus, Lath. ; all
taken at Somerville.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXHIBITION OF WILD FLOWERS.
The exhibition of wild flowers usually held in the spring by the
members of the Field Naturalists' Club was this year so arranged
that it might serve to commemorate the first anniversary of the
death of Baron von Mueller, late Government Botanist of Victoria,
one of the patrons and earliest members of the Club. In order
that the large number of personal friends of the deceased botanist
might share in the commemoration, the Club offered to receive
and take charge of wreaths or other floral designs of wild flowers,
and afterwards place them upon Baron von Mueller's grave.
Accordingly the exhibition was held in conjunction with the
October meeting of the Club in the Royal Society's Hall on
Monday evening, the nth October, when there was a splendid
display of the floral wealth of Australia ; for besides Victoria and
New South Wales, Western Australia also contributed to the
success of the exhibition.

Owing to the large number of exhibits sent in, and the short
time available for arranging and naming, it is impossible to give a
complete list of the specimens of the various exhibitors.

Wreaths and floral designs were contributed by the Mueller
Botanical Society, Perth, Western Australia, a wreath of ever-
lastings ; Miss Georgina King, Homebush, Sydney, a crown com-
posed entirely of flowers of Boronia Jioribunda ; Mrs. and Miss
Williamson, Chiltern ; Mrs. Galsworthy, Beaconsfield ; Misses
Wise, Sale ; Mrs. C. French, jun. ; Mrs. J. G. Luehmann ; Miss
Cochrane ; Mr. and Mrs. Perrett, Clayton's Road ; Messrs. J.
West, Phillip Island ; A. J. Campbell, and G. French.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 99

A splendid collection of native flowers from the neighbourhood
of Sydney was contributed by Miss Hynas, B.A. ; Messrs. J. H.
Maiden, F.L.S., Botanic Gardens ; R. T. Baker, F.L.S., Techno-
logical Museum ; J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc, Linnean Society ;
C. Hedley, F.L.S., Australian Museum ; and A. G. Hamilton,
Mount Kembla; together with Professor Spencer, Messrs. A. H.
S. Lucas, M.A., and T. Steele, F.L.S. — members of the Field
Naturalists' Club of Victoria, then in Sydney. The collection
comprised some 60 species, including Boronia floribunda, B.
serrulata, Pliilotheca Australia, Daviesia alata, Callicoma serrati-
folia, Darwinia fascicular is, Lambertia formosa, Grevillea sericea,
G. punicea, Hakea dactyloides, Telopea speciocissima, Goodenia
heterophylla, Styphelia trifiora, S. microphylla, Woollsia pungens,
Sowerbcea juncea, Actinotus helianthi, Macadamia sp., Dendrobium
tetragonum, D. speciosum, and Diuris aurea.

Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., contributed about fifty species of
Australian wild flowers grown at the Melbourne Botanical
Gardens, including many handsome grevilleas, acacias, &c. ; the
Castlemaine Ramblers' Club, a collection of local flowers, includ-
ing Eriostemon obovalis, Grevillea rosmarinifolia, G. Alpina, &c.
Flowers were contributed by Mr. C. French, F.L.S., from Chelten-
ham ; Mr. J. G. Luehmann, from Sandringham ; Mr. D. Best,
from Cheltenham ; Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., from Mitcham ; by Mr.
C. French, jun., and C. Walter, from Ringwood and Cheltenham ;
Mr. J. E. Shepherd, from Somerville, including Sprengelia incar-
nata, var. alba, and Epacris obtusifolia ; Mr. F. G. A. Barnard,
30 species from Plenty Ranges, including Eriostemon correifolius,
Baeckea diffusa, Tetratheca ericifolia, Dampiera stricta, also Heli-
chrysum obcor datum, Dilwynia cinerascens, &c, from Yan Yean ;
Mr. A. E. Kitson, from Benalla ; Mr. J. Paul, from Grantville ;
Mr. A. Purdie, M.A., from Bendigo ; Miss Cochrane, from Ring-
wood, including Pterostylis barbata; Misses Wise, from Sale,
including Correa speciosa (red variety), Galadenia Cairnsiana,
Caleya major.

Besides those mentioned, the Victorian flowers included
Hybanthus filiformis, Pittosporum phylliroides, Gomesperma
volubile (white flowers), Boronia polygalifolia, Eriostemon myopo-
roides, Lasiopetalum Baueri, L. Schultzenii, Sphairolobium vimi-
neum, Pultentea villosa, Acacia calamifolia, A. retinodes, Baxter a
rubioides, Calycothrix tetragona} C. Sullivani, Leptospermum
myrsinoides, Melaleuca Wilsoni, Pommaderris subrepanda, Heli-
chrysum elatum, Candollea despecta, Dampiera Broivnii, Prostan-
thera rotundifolia, Epacris longijlora, E. microphylla, Stypandra
glauca ; also about 30 species of orchids, including Thdymitra
epipactoides, Prasophyllum elatum, P. fuscum, Pterostylis pedunc-
ulata, Galadenia suaveolens, C. latifolia, C. Menziesii, and Lyper-
anthus nigricans.

100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

On Tuesday morning, the 12th October, most of the loose
flowers were made up into wreaths by the Misses French, Haase,
and Kleiser, and Messrs. C. French and C. French, jun., the
flowers not required being forwarded to the Melbourne Hospital.
In the afternoon Messrs. C. French, F.L.S. (president), J. Shep-
herd, C. Frost, F.L.S., J. Gabriel, G. Coghill, and G. French, jun.,
conveyed the wreaths and designs, twenty-seven in all, to the St.
Kilda Cemetery, and arranged them on Baron von Mueller's
grave, thereby completing the memorial proceedings organized by
the Club and enabling the contributors to show their respect and
love for the memory of the deceased botanist.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EGG OF THE WHITE HEADED
FRUIT PIGEON, CARPOPHAGA NORFOLCIENSIS,
LATH.

By D. Le Souep.
These birds frequent the dense scrubs that are found in the
coastal districts of North-East Australia. They are shy, and not
often seen, and seem to go about either singly or in pairs. The
egg of this bird is apparently the only one of the Australian Fruit
Pigeons' which has not yet been described. During my visit to
the Bloomfield River district in 1894, one of the black boys in
Mr. Hislop's service, named Bamboo, brought in an egg which
he said belonged to this bird; he found it on 23rd November.
Last year, when I was again visiting the same district, we found
another nest, on 28th November, with one egg in, slightly incu-
bated. The parent bird was disturbed off the nest. The nest
was the usual fragile structure, composed of a few sticks, and
being 3^ inches in diameter; it was built near the end of a
branch of a scrub tree and overhanging a watercourse, being about
fifteen feet from the ground. The eggs are an elongated oval,
one having a point on the smaller end. They are pure white
and slightly lustrous. The two taken measure — (1) 1.38 in. x
1.4 in. ; (2) 1.36 in. x 1.4 in.

NOTES ON THE FANTAILED CUCKOO.
By A. J. Campbell.
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th August, 1897.,)
The smaller sized Fantailed Cuckoo, Cuculus flabelliformis,
Lath., like the Pallid Cuckoo, enjoys a range over Australia and
Tasmania, arriving at and departing from its southern limits about
the same time as the latter bird does. However, a few stragglers
of the Fantailed species remain to winter in Victoria, as some of
my notes attest. Also in Tasmania individuals have been ob-
served during winter.

From about the end of September to the beginning of Decern-

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

101

ber includes the laying season of the Fantailed Cuckoo. The eggs
are almost invariably deposited in domed or covered-in nests of
certain little insectivorous birds. But there are a few notable
exceptions (four instances) of open nests having been selected.

Here follows a list of foster parents of the Fantailed Cuckoo
known up to the present, namely : —

Vernacular Name.

Tasmanian Tit ...
Little Brown Tit ...
Striated ,, ...

Little Yellow „

(?) Buff-rumped Tit
Long-tailed Wren
Blue

Variegated , ,
Sombre Scrub-Tit
White-fronted ,,
Large-billed „
Little Field Lark
White-eared Honey-eater
Black capped ,,

Wood Swallow ...
Dusky Robin ....

Scientific Name.

Acanthiza diemenensis ...
A. pusilla ...
A. lineata ...
A. nana ...

Geobasileus reguloides ...
Malurus gouldi ...
M. cyaneus

M. lamberti

Sericornis humilis

S. frontalis

S. magnirostris ...

Chthonicola sagittata

Ptilotis leucotis ...

Melithreptus melanocepha-

lus
Artamus sordidus . . .
Petrceca vittata ...

By Whom First

Recorded or

Reported.

Rev. H. T. Hull

Dr. E. P. Ramsay

A. J. C.
Dr. E. P.

Ramsay

A. J. C.

T. Brittlebank

A. J. C.

Dr. E. P. Ramsay

C. French, jun.

A.

E. Brent

,, (Nov., '96)

We are indebted to Dr. Ramsay for much original information
in reference to our cuckoos. He patiently watched their eggs in
various nests, thus enabling him to identify the species when
hatched. The result of his labours, together with coloured plates
of four of the most familiar eggs, may be found embodied in the
"Proceedings of the Zoological Society" (London), 1865 and
1869, from which I quote at length : —

" Among those species, the nests of which are favoured by
visits from this ' parasite,' is Acanthiza pusilla, from a nest
of which in September, 1863, we took no less than four eggs —
two laid by the rightful owner of the nest and the other
two by cuckoos. One of these was a very fine specimen of
Ghalcites basilis* the other an egg of the present species,
Cacomantis fiabelliformis. The entrance to this nest was greatly
enlarged, being in width fully 2 inches, and the hood which
usually conceals the entrance (which is near the top of the nest
and not generally wider than 1 inch across) was pushed back
to such an extent that the eggs were rendered quite visible.

" I have now before me ten nests of the Acanthizse and four
of Maluri, the former comprising Acanthiza lineata, A. nana,
A. pusilla, and what at present I believe to be that of A. regu-
loides ; the latter, Malurus cyaneus and M. lamberti.

Probably plagosn s is intended. — A. J. C.

102 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

" Now, having compared the greatly enlarged entrances
of those nests from which we have taken cuckoos' eggs with the
entrances of those which did not contain the egg of a cuckoo,
and which we took as soon as the bird had laid its full number
of eggs for a sitting, I cannot but feel convinced more than ever
that the eggs of these parasites are laid in the nests and not
deposited in any other manner.

"The average width of the entrances of the nests of A canthiza
lineata which have not been visited by a cuckoo is i inch, while
those which have contained cuckoos' eggs vary from 2 to 2^
inches. In addition to the nests of Acanthiza pusitta we have
known this cuckoo (C. flabelliformis ) deposit its eggs in the nest
of A. reguloides (?) and Chthonicola sagittata."

However valuable are Dr. Ramsay's other notes, I must in the
interests of research and truth combat his idea that the eggs of
cuckoos are laid in the nests and not deposited in any other
manner. How can the Fantailed Cuckoo, a bird about 9 inches
long, including a tail 5 inches, enter the small covered or dome-
shaped nest of, say, a Tit, Acanthiza, the longest exterior diameter
of which is only 4^ inches ? The side entrance, that hardly
admits of one's finger, may be enlarged by the cuckoo thrusting
its head in.

In my published remarks, read before the Field Naturalists'
Club of Victoria, 1883, on our Cuckoos, I ventured the opinion
that our cuckoos (particularizing four species), after laying their
eggs somewhere, convey them in their bills to the nest of the
chosen foster parent. Since then I noticed an interesting article
on " The Architectural Tastes of Birds," by M. Oustalet, of
France, in which is stated :—

" The cuckoo watches the moment when the mother quits the
nest, then laying its egg, seizes it by its mandibles, passes it into
the throat with the agility of a conjuror, and flies to deposit it
delicately in the stranger's nest."

We also have the statement of another eminent ornithologist,
Dr. Sharpe, of the British Museum, who says : —

" The fact of the cuckoo carrying her egg in her bill to deposit
it in the nest of her victim is now generally admitted."

If such be possible with the European cuckoo, why not with our
Australian species also ? The following note received from Mr.
Wra. P. Best, Branxholme, Victoria, is, I think, conclusive evidence
on the subject as far as this species is concerned : —

" In the season of 1888 I shot a Fantailed Cuckoo. It was
almost the first bird I had seen or heard in the season. On dis-
section it proved a specially interesting specimen, as in its ovary
I found a nearly perfect egg, and in its gizzard another egg, which,
though much broken, was evidently an egg of the same species,
probably of the same bird. The season was a late one, and the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103

conclusion I drew was, that the bird had carried the egg about for
a considerable time, and, being unable to find a suitable nest, had
simply swallowed it."

By permission I quote the following notes from the diary of the
Rev. H. T. Hull, Tasmania : —

" 6th October, 1877. — Found nest of Acanthiza dicmenensis,
with egg of Gacomantis fiabelliformis. The three eggs of
Acanthiza were all dented, as if the larger egg had been roughly
deposited on the top of them."

"15th November. — Found nest of Acanthiza diemenensis, two
eggs broken, with young far advanced, but dead ; fresh egg of
cuckoo, flabelliformis."

During my own visit to Tasmania, October, 1883, the over-
seer at Ridgeside brought under my notice a nest of the Tas-
manian Tit, Acanthiza, in a gorse hedge, from which he had
just abstracted the egg of the Fantailed Cuckoo. The building of
the nest had apparently just been completed, and was used first
by the cuckoo. And, strange to relate, although the entrance of
the nest was enlarged by the overseer to abstract the cuckoo s
egg, the enlargement did not offend the little Tit, because three
days afterwards she laid her first egg, and my subsequent visits to
the nest proved that she finished her complement.

Another note I made on the mainland during an excursion of
the Field Naturalists' Club reads thus : — " 15.10.92 — Wandong. —
Egg of Fantailed Cuckoo in Tit's, Acanthiza, nest with one egg
of the Tit. Eggs could be seen from outside. Evidently the en-
trance had been somewhat enlarged, possibly by the head of the
cuckoo when depositing the egg."

Perhaps I should have placed a query against the Large-billed
Scrub-Tit, Sericornis, as a foster-parent of the Fantailed Cuckoo,
for, although the parasitical bird's eggs I found in the " Big
Scrub," Richmond River, New South Wales, resembled those
of the Fantailed Cuckoo, they were slightly different to those
taken from Acanthizas' nests in Victoria and Tasmania.

The following letter appeared in the Victorian Naturalist,
December, 1891, above the name of C. French, jun. : —

" A friend of mine living near Oakleigh informs me that one
day, when out collecting, he came across a nest of the White-
eared Honey-eater, P. leucotis, ready for eggs, and on visiting
the same nest the following day, it contained an egg of the Pallid
Cuckoo, C. pallidus, which he left, thinking the Honey-eater
would lay shortly ; but on his return the third day he found that
the egg of the Pallid Cuckoo had been thrown out of the nest
by the Fantailed Cuckoo, C. flabelliformis, and she had laid an
egg in the nest. The Honey-eater deserted the nest. This is
the second time my friend has noticed this same proceeding."

This is an exceedingly interesting note, for rarely does the

104 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Fantailed Cuckoo deposit its egg in an open nest. However,
three other instances were observed by Mr. A. E. Brent,
Tasmania, where the Fantailed Cuckoo is particularly partial to
the covered nests of Sericornis, S. humilis. They occurred
respectively in the open nests of the Black-capped Honey-eater,
M. melanocephahts, the Dusky Robin, P. vittata, and the Wood
Swallow, A. sordidus.

The following is Mr. Brent's note about the Dusky Robin's
nest: — "I took a set of Dusky Robin's eggs from a nest built
on a stump near home. In passing the place some days
afterwards, I pointed it out to a friend. Going forward and
inspecting the position, he exclaimed, ' Here is a find !' Upon
going up to the nest too I found a beautiful specimen of the
egg of our Fantailed Cuckoo. There is no doubt about this bird
having deposited her egg there after I had robbed the nest."

In Tasmania a fresh egg of the Fantailed Cuckoo was found
deposited on a bare stump. Doubtless it had been laid there by
the bird, which was probably disturbed before it could convey it
away to some suitable nest.

This cuckoo, as shown in Dr. Ramsay's statement, has been
known to deposit its egg in a nest containing other species
of cuckoo's egg. Here is a couplet from Mr. Brent's Tasmanian
field notes which he kindly furnished me with : —

"I had the exceptionally good fortune to find a nest of our
little Browntail, Acanthiza, containing two eggs of the parent
bird, together with one egg each of the Fantailed, Bronze, and
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoos — a nice lot, and all fresh."

" In December last (1895) we came across a nest of the little
Browntail in some short bushes, containing two eggs of the
Acanthiza and one of the Bronze Cuckoo. Having nothing to
carry them home in, we left them for three days, and upon
returning for them we found the nest contained only one
Acanthiza's egg, one Bronze Cuckoo's, and also one Fantailed
Cuckoo's ; the other shell of the Acanthiza's egg we picked up
just outside of the nest."

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW VICTORIAN MOTH.

By J. A. Kershaw.

This moth, belonging to the Geometridas, does not appear to
have been yet described ; I have, therefore, named it Pseudo-
terpna singularis, from the peculiar position assumed by it when
resting.

Pseudoterpna singularis, n. sp. — Male and female. — Head
and thorax grey, face whitish. Palpi white, blackish laterally ;
terminal joint moderate, rather slender ; antennse dark grey ;

THE VICTOR IAX NATURALIST

November, iSg-t

Upper Side.

Under Side.

PSEUDOTERPNA SINGULARIS (N- Sp.)

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 105

abdomen grey, irrorated with black, with three or four ferruginous
dorral tufts, each tuft with a few central grey hairs. Fore-wings
elongate, costa nearly straight, rather abruptly angled at base ;
hind-margin rounded, waved, somewhat oblique ; grey, darker
towards hind-margin. Two slender black transverse lines, first
from about ^ of costa to y^ inner margin, twice outwards curved
(not dentate) ; a rather indistinct short transverse linear dark-grey
discal spot ; second line from nearly V^ of costa to about centre
of inner margin, sharply dentate, irregularly curved. A fairly
large distinct ferruginous spot near hinder angle, and another,
less distinct, about middle of second line ; a fine black hind-
marginal line. Cilia dark grey, lighter at base. Hind-wings
elongate, hind-margin unevenly rounded, crenate, colour as in
fore-wings, but first line and discal spot absent. Immediately
beyond the dentate line are three distinct, fairly large ferruginous
spots — first, on costa, sometimes very indistinct ; second, about
middle ; and third, towards anal angle. Beneath, whitish ; in
fore-wings a large dark-greyish discal suffusion ; a very distinct
transverse black discal spot, extending to lower angle of cell, and
a very broad blackish band, extending to hind-margin. Hind-
wings with the blackish band connected with hind-margin,
excepting about middle. Inner margin of black band, both in
upper and lower wings, waved.

Expanse — Male, about i inch 6 lines ; female, about i inch
ii lines.

Locality — Narracan, Gippsland. Taken in February and April.
Type in National Museum collection.

The great peculiarity in this moth, by which it can be imme-
diately recognized, is the singular manner in which it places its
wings when at rest. Instead of resting with the wings spread
out in the usual way, it throws its fore-wings forward, with the
costal edges just about touching each other, the base of the
costa of each wing being rather abruptly sloped off to allow
space for the head. The antennae are placed straight forward
along the edge of the wings, and the hind-wings are thrown back-
wards in a line with the abdomen. The insect rests in this
manner with the body and wings closely appressed to the surface
on which it alights, and gives to it a rather peculiar appearance.
A favourite resting place is the sheltered side of an old fence or
paling shed, and the colour of the moth and its surroundings so
closely assimilate that it is almost impossible to distinguish it
even when closely searching for it, and affords another striking
instance of protective resemblance. My father, Mr. VV. Kershaw,
who has had the opportunity of seeing the moth on the wing,
informs me that it seems to fly in the ordinary manner, and not
as we might be led to imagine, with the fore-wings thrown
forward and the hind- wings backwards, as in the resting position,

106 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

and when it alights it moves its wings up and down once or
twice in the manner usual to most of the species of this group,
and then places them in the position as explained above.
This is the first instance that has ever come under my notice in
which the perfect insect adopts this singular position when at rest,
and it would be most interesting to learn if anyone else has
noticed any other instance of this peculiarity ; so far I have been
unable to find anyone who has done so. Why it should rest in
this manner and not in the ordinary way I have been unable to
form any idea, unless it serves as an additional means of protec-
tion from its numerous enemies ; but one would think that, as it
chooses as its resting places situations in which the surroundings
so closely resemble its own colour, and resting so closely against
the object as to form nothing to attract the eye, it was already
sufficiently protected. I should not be at all surprised to find
that somewhat similar instances occur amongst some of the closely
allied Queensland forms, although I have been unable, so far, to
find any reference to it. In the " Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1888"
(p. 833), Meyrick records an instance in which a new species of
Hesperiadae from Western Australia, Exometmca nycteris, Meyr.,
" sits on a twig with the wings directed perpendicularly forward
(as in a bat), projecting on the side of the under-surface of
thorax, so as to enclose the legs, whereas in the ordinary species
of the family they are usually directly reversed — carried erect
over the back."

My best thanks are due to Mr. Ernest Anderson for kindly
furnishing the illustration.

Parrots and Scale Insects. — The oaks in the Fitzroy
Gardens are at the present time being injured by a species of
scale insect, Planchonia quercicola. Various means, such as
cutting off the branches, spraying the trees, &c, are being used
to extirpate the disease, but they do not appear likely to be
successful. As in other cases, Nature, however, seems to have
provided a remedy. In this instance it is in the form of the
well-known Rosella Parrot, Platycercus eximius. The other
day I noticed a number of these birds running their bills round
the twigs and small branches of several oaks, and, watching them
carefully for some time, saw that they confined their attention
exclusively to these portions of the trees. The buds were not
interfered with in any way, and it was easily seen that not a
single one was broken off while the birds were scraping the stems
clean and burrowing in the small forks for the clusters of insects
which usually exist there. In order to obtain further evidence
I climbed one of the trees, and, examining the branches where
the birds had been feeding, found that numerous twigs were

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 107

partially or wholly stripped of the insects, while other twigs in
the same group were completely covered with them. On several
following occasions I saw the birds acting in the same way,
and, failing absolute proof, have no doubt in my own mind that
they were really destroying the disease. — A. E. Kitson. 13th
September, 1897.

White-eared Honey-eater. — The following curious action
on the part of a bird seems worthy of being placed on record.
Early last month, when searching on horseback through some
thick scrub for nests, I noticed that I was being persistently
followed by a female White-eared Honey-eater, Ptilotis leucotis,
Lath., which I conjectured was looking for nesting material. I
therefore dismounted, tying my horse to a neighbouring sapling,
stood some 8 or 10 paces off, to watch the bird. She quickly
alighted on the animal's back behind the saddle, and commenced
to pull vigorously at the hair, shifting once or twice to escape the
switch of the tail. The male bird meanwhile alighted in a
neighbouring bush, and cheered her up with an occasional
" choke-up," " choke-up." Having plucked sufficient hair to
carry conveniently, she darted off, and disappeared in the
distance. Accordingly, moving on in the direction taken, I again
tied the horse to a tree, and had not long to wait for her return,
when she again filled her mouth with hair and flew off, this time,
however, but a short distance, as I was now close to the nest,
which I easily found in the scrub. On revisiting the nest four
days afterwards I found her sitting upon her two eggs, and one of
the Pallid Cuckoo. — J. E. Shepherd, Somerville, 9th October,
1897.

Lizards. — The following letter by Mr. J. M. Whistler, Bor-
ganup, Western Australia, is taken from the Australasian of 23rd
October, 1897. He says : — "In a recent issue you gave a des-
cription of the ' Frilled Lizard,' and appear to regard it as the
only existing species which can run on its hind legs. There is a
lizard very common in the country about Roeburne, W.A., which
generally uses that mode of locomotion, and can travel for 20
yards quite as fast as a rabbit. I have seen a strong, active cat,
which lived chiefly on lizards, easily left behind by one which
wriggled out of its clutches. The average length of a full-grown
specimen is about 18 in. I have seen one or two which were
quite 2 ft. It has no frill, and seldom uses its forelegs except
when climbing trees. The colour is grey, and on each side of the
back is a narrow yellow stripe, commencing with a width of Jf in.
at the neck, and tapering away to the tip of the tail. The general
shape is the same as that of the Long-tailed Guana, and it has the
same trick when at rest of raising its fore-quarters and nodding its
head up and down. The head is 1^ in. long, the body about

108 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

5 in., and the tail, which tapers to a very fine point, makes up the
remaining length. The hindlegs are long, widely set, and strong,
with long clawed feet. When starting to run, the lizard rises its
long tail in a sweeping curve, thus lifting its body off the ground,
folds its forelegs across its breast, and starts off at a surprising rate,
scattering small stones, sticks, and sand by the powerful action of
its strong hindlegs. The favourite amusement of these little
reptiles in the heat of the day is to drop to the ground from the
bough of a tree, often a height of quite 12 ft., and then rush to the
trunk, scamper up it, and repeat the performance. They are de-
lighted if they can drop on anyone lying under the tree, and will
do it again and again unless hunted to a distance. I was sleeping
beneath a scraggy cajeput one burning noontime, when one of the
little nuisances dropped on my throat. A few minutes after it
came down with better aim on the bridge of my nose, which was
sunburnt and sore, and I had to hunt it quite away. Fortunately
it was only a half-grown one. Another time, when lying lame in
the verandah, one dropped on me several times from the rafters,
and at last I had to call the cook to drive the little beast away
from the house. No doubt they were attracted by the flies which
were buzzing over me."

New Carenid Beetles. — In the " Proceedings Linnean
Society of New South Wales," vol. xxii., part i. (1897), Mr. T. G.
Sloane describes twenty new species of Carenid Beetles from
various parts of Australia, mostly submitted to Mr. Sloane by Mr.
C. French, F.L.S., in whose collection the type specimens are
contained. Of the new species five are Victorian.

Eggs of Pied Honey-eater. — As some doubt exists as to
the locality from whence the eggs of Certhionyv leucomelas, ex-
hibited by me at the August meeting of the Club, were obtained,
I desire to state that the eggs in question were given me by Mr.
Cowle, of Centra] Australia. They correspond, however, exactly
with those taken by me when with the Calvert Exploring Expedi-
tion in Western Australia, and which had afterwards to be aban-
doned along with the rest of the collections in the desert. — G. A.
Keartland.

Lacinularia Elliptica — A Correction. — The words " de-
scribed by me in the Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii. (1896), p. 22,"
in lines 24-25, page 85, of last month's Naturalist should be
struck out, having been inadvertently inserted. — Ed. Vict. Nat.

Bees. — H. Friese, 5 Siebererstrasse, Innsbruck, Austria, author
of " Bees of Europe " (published by Friedlander, Berlin), is work-
ing on the " Bees and Humble Bees of the World," and is anxious
for Australian correspondents.

THK

Qictovxatt U a t it v a 1 1 0 1*

Vol. XIV.— No. 9. JANUARY 6, 1898. No. 169.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th December, 1897. Mr.
T. S. Hall, M.A., one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair,
and about 30 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to Somerton on Saturday, 20th
November, was read by the leader, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who
stated that the principal objects secured were coleopterous larvae,
obtained chiefly in the branches of trees torn off in the severe
gale of the previous evening.

A report of the Club excursion to Black Rock on Saturday,
nth December, was read by the leader, Mr. H. T. Tisdall, who
stated that though it was nearly high tide a fair number of algse
were obtained, including one, Caulerpa sedoides, which is
especially rare. He was very pleased with the prospects of the
locality, and hoped another excursion would be arranged for a
time when the tide would be low.

Mr. Stickland stated that a meeting for practical work had
been held on Monday evening, 22nd November, when the Rev.
W. Fielder continued his course, his subject being " Histology
of the Nervous System."

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Alex. Fraser, 39 Queen-street,
was duly elected a member of the club.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd, entitled " On the Nidification of
the Emu Wren, Stipiturus malac/mrus."

The author described the finding of nests of this bird on
several occasions and exhibited a nest with its immediate sur-
roundings intact to show members the extreme density of the
undergrowth in which they build and the difficulty of detecting
the nest.

In the discussion which followed Messrs. Le Souef and Camp-
bell joined, and it was mentioned that Mr. Shepherd was the
only member of the Club who had been successful in finding the
nest of the Emu Wren.

122 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

2. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, " Description of the Egg of the
Short-tailed Albatross."

The author, besides describing the egg, gave some notes on
the Albatrosses and their breeding-places, and concluded by giving
notice of the following motion for next meeting : — " That the
Tasmanian Government be approached with a view to having the
Albatrosses on Albatross Island protected by law." Mr. Le Souef
and the chairman expressed their thanks to Mr. Campbell for
bringing this matter forward, and considered the motion to be
deserving of the Club's support.

3. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, " Notes on the Bronze Cuckoos."
In this paper the author gave the names of the various foster

parents of the " Narrow-billed Bronze " and " Bronze " Cuckoos,
as far as at present recorded or known to him, with some in-
teresting general notes on these birds.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

The chairman stated that Mr. G. A. Keartland, while in Western
Australia, had discovered a new tree on the Fitzroy River, which
had been named Gardenia Keartlandi after him by Professor
Tate.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Lizard, Gymnodactylus platurus,
from Mossman River, North Queensland. By Mr. A. Coles. —
Clutches of eggs of Ephthiomura albifrons, E. aurifrons, and
E. tricolor. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Rose-breasted Robin, nest,
and eggs ; Downy Pycnoptilus ; old nest of Mountain Thrush,
with Polypodium ferns growing from it ; rare orchid, Sarcochilas
parviflorus, collected in Dandenong Ranges, November, 1897.
By Mr. Jos. Gabriel. — Rare birds' eggs from Dandenong Ranges :
Pycnoptilus Jloccosus, Erythrodryas rosea, and Rhipidura
rufifrons. By Mr. Jas. A. Kershaw. — Young larvae of moth,
Arrhodia lasiocamparia, Gn., reared from eggs. By Mr. F. M.
Reader. — Pterostylis concinna, R. Br., Dimboola, and Cyperus
gracilis, R. Br., Lake Hindmarsh, both new for N.W. Victoria.
By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Nest of Emu Wren, in illustration of
paper ; two eggs of White-shouldered Campephaga, taken with
Pallid Cuckoo's ; eggs of Narrow-billed and Fantailed Cuckoos
taken in nest of Blue Wren with two eggs of the wren, from
Somerville.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

Victorian Botany. — A census of the plants of the Cape
Otway Forest has recently been issued by Mr. G. Hitchcock,
F.L.S., F.R.A.S., of Flinders School, Geelong, who has also
published a similar list for the Geelong district.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 123

NOTES ON THE BIRD FAUNA OF THE BOX HILL

DISTRI CT — Continued.

honey-eaters.

By Robert Hall.

(Bead before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th August, 1897.)

In the ornithology of this continent the honey-eating family is
found to be the largest in number of species.

That eminent ornithologist, Mr. John Gould, was very happy in
claiming for the Meliphagidae the place in the avi-fauna of
Australia held by the eucalypts in the flora. Plant and animal
are closely associated, for where a quantity of flowering gums are
growing, so surely will be the honey-eaters represented by one or
more species. When there are not any blossoms on certain trees
the birds will seek others further afield, or, if necessary, will
subsist on insect life until such time as Nature provides the
nectar-pots for a dual purpose.

The question of what constitutes the family of Meliphagida? is an
open one, rendered so by the varied opinions held by five leading
systematists of London. The bone of contention is whether the
Zosterops, of which there are 88 species known, should or should
not be included in the family. Dr. Gadow, in " The British
Museum Catologue of Birds," vol. ix., favours their entry. Of
honey-eaters with generally recognized definition there are some
150 known species confined to the Australian and New Zealand
regions, though with scanty representation in the latter. With one
exception, they are altogether placed in these areas, and it is not
so very surprising that this wanderer should get from Lombok
to the Island of Bali ; rather the wonder is that the north-west
boundary of geographical range should be so faithfully kept by the
birds.

If you hold the view that the Silver-eyes (Zosteropinse) should
form a part of the family, then the two regions named will lose the
family as one peculiar to the areas, for it then starts its most
western line of habitation in South Africa, and works northward
to China, and south from there to New Zealand, closely traversing
the intermediate countries.

The first Zosterops described was from a specimen obtained in
New South Wales, and the largest species now occupies the small
island of Norfolk.

If we include the Silver-eyes, of which there are six species in
Australia, we find our continent with Tasmania to total seventy-
five species. Thirty-seven of these are recorded as Victorian, four-
teen of which, according to my observations, occur in the
district under review.

The White-plumed Honey-eater, Plilotis penicillata, Gould
(W.), is rather less familiar than the yellow-faced species. It is

124 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

an active bird with a strong call — whit, whit, whit, wheat — given
with celerity. It is particularly chivalrous in the spring. Besides
being a honey-eater it is a bold warrior, attacking insects in the
air above its woody haunts, and not travelling, as do many of the
family, in continuous search for the honey-laden flowers that
alone seem to nourish them. Rather than bow to the cold order
of winter to " move on," it keeps to its summer post, and changes
the diet of the warmer months to one of insects during the winter.
Even though this species passes much of its time amongst the
tree-tops, it will often prefer to place its cup-shaped nest within a
few feet of the grass in a melaleuca, eucalypt, or other shrub
convenient for its purpose — sometimes 4 feet, more often 14
feet, and occasionally 40 feet from the ground.

Ptilotis chrysops, Lath. (W.), * the Yellow-faced Honey-
eater, is a well-known orchard bird, for in nearly every large
garden one or more suspended nests will be found in the season.
It builds early and lays late. In February I have observed
unfledged young ; in November, nests containing eggs of the
Pallid and Bronze Cuckoos. Although particularly inquisitive
itself, a close observation by a stranger into its nest is considered
an extraordinary intrusion, and it will then flutter and screech at
a distance. If upon the ground, it will try to decoy you away,
much in the manner of the Ephthianura. There is a general
likeness between this species and the Singing Honey-eater, Ptilotis
sonora. Both have the prominent marking of yellow on ear
coverts, but the latter has a dark line above them, in contrast
to what appears to be a dark line below them in P. chrysops.
This bird spends much of its time in fly-catching, and quite
half of it when the fruit has been gathered. If the winter season
starts cold it will commence its nomadic life, and such places
as the mountain localities it will quit regularly.

Another foster-parent of the Pallid Cuckoo is Ptilotis leueotis,
Lath. (W.),* the White-eared Honey-eater. To see a pair of this
small species showing the kindest attentions to the large bird in
passing insects from bill to bill is amusing. If you have never
seen the act you doubtless have heard of it, and can imagine it
as extremely ludicrous. The call of the bird is varied, and at
one time similar to that of the Striated Pardalote, but more
powerful. One note of the Pardalote's three is left out, and in
lieu of saying " Pick it up," once or more repeated, the Honey-
eater calls " Pick up," followed by " twite twite," more quickly
than the introductory part. The nest is placed generally within
a few feet of the ground, and the eggs are not typical of the
family, being whitish more than salmon tint.

One of the most beautiful of honey-eaters is the Horseshoe
or Tasmanian, Meliomis Australasiana, Shaw (W.) Not that it
is highly coloured, but the arrangement of the ashy-grey with the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 125

jugular markings gives the bird a charm. If not on heath-
fields it may be seen in their environment, but only under
favourable food circumstances, as we consider it one of the
rarities. The nearest habitat is between Box Hill and Mordialloc,
and what I should consider the home of the bird is to the south-
east, in the Grantville district, where heaths abound, bordered as
they are by sea and mountain, and where sand-flies can form a
part of its diet.

A large and very ordinary honey-eater is the Wattled, Acan-
thochaera carunculata, Lath. (W.) * It is a sale-bird at our
poulterers', in and out of Game Act season. In Tasmania there is
a close ally, and as its wattles are twice the length — viz., one inch,
or half an inch longer than the Victorian species — the adult
birds are quickly recognized irrespective of wattle coloration.
There are two other so-called wattle birds, Brush and Lunulated,
but as they bear no wattles the differences in this respect are
sound.

This species has a wide vocabulary, from an unpleasant
jugular noise to one pleasant in a limited degree. When the
young begin to call there is little to choose between that of the
practised larynx and the one undergoing the tediousness of a
lesson. The length of the youthful bird as it leaves the nest is
nine (9) inches, while that of the parent is 15 inches, and this
difference will give anyone critically inclined in the study of
music an opportunity to further investigate. As the tail grows
there is still a variation in the general plumage, it being light
brown on the young where the adult shows a tendency to white.

On the 1 6th May, 1896, Tunstall was the scene of a gathering
of its forces for migration. Several hundreds, if not thousands,
of birds were flying, grouped overhead, doing what I believe to
have been the gathering of their forces. A young friend told off
for special duty as a day watcher saw these birds return in
company at 3 p.m., after being away since 9 a.m. They then
made a short circuit, returned, and then flew off not to return.
However, all the birds of this species did not join the main
body, as I saw, six weeks later, two which were on familiar
ground and looked to be in good health.

A bird somewhat like the previous one (in the distance) is
the Friar Bird or Leatherhead, Philemon corniculatus, Lath. ;
but a nearer acquaintance with it in the higher foliage will reveal
the only featherless-headed bird in southern parts. To get a
good knowledge of it one must go further into the timber than
Box Hill proper.

The Spine Bill, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (W.),* Lath., with
a close ally in Western Australia, is a honey-eater more familiar to
us, as in a certain garden, almost throughout the year, it is to be
observed, suspended to flowers laden with nectar or flitting

126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

in search of them. Plants from different zones, discriminately
placed in a garden, will keep a pair of this species about the
same spot for the year, or years ; and the graceful actions of this
beautiful bird would almost convert the horticulturist into a
zoologist for the time being. Mr. Gould does not draw our
notice to an exquisite series of notes in springtime ; but such they
are, and I liken them to the " Pretty Dick " of the canary —
sweeter, fuller, and given three to six times, quickly and consecu-
tively. Another call is a single, uninteresting note, and this
is probably what the celebrated ornithologist describes in dis-
paraging terms. When indulging in a gambol the wings may
be heard to continuously flap, and they carry only for a short
distance. The three last months of the year are favourable for
nesting, but in cold districts the month of February is not
considered too late for egg-laying. In the Australian Alps, in
a valley below Mount St. Bernard, I took the eggs as late as
3rd February ; and when I also withdrew the pendent nest
because the builders had hazel irides instead of vermilion, they
merrily built another a few yards away, and, I believe, success-
fully raised a little brood of two, only a week late on previous
arrangements. Before taking this nest the birds pulled many
of the feathers out and strewed them in the branches above as
a sign of evacuation, which happened the following day. In
this district, on 10th November of last year, a pair removed the
twigs from a nest of the Pied Grallina and built their own with
them. Nature has not debarred this slender-tongued bird from
hunting for insects along the ground, which it does in company
with the tits and robins while waiting the time of epacris and
banksia blooms.

Although this district is unsuited to the Warty-faced Honey-
eater, Meliphaga phrygia, Lath., it may be noticed once or
twice in a year, and then just at the commencement of spring,
when it might be expected to search for twigs and build a cup-
shaped nest, after the manner of its ancestors ; but so far I have
not yet found one. Following the creeks to the west of
Melbourne is more likely to be productive of good observations,
for there it builds, and others may build against its house if they
so wish. At Myrniong, in January, the Red-browed Finch had
placed its domicile a few inches below the Honey-eater's, or
vice versd ; however, they lived on good terms, to the best
of my knowledge — grain-eater and honey-eater. The brood of
one species would be two ; of the other, six. I can guarantee
good behaviour on the part of the young finches, but I am not
as educated as I would like to be with regard to the young
honey-eaters' dispositions.

The noisiest of all southern Honey-eaters is the Garrulous,
Aianorhina garrula, Lath., W., and yet it is scarcest here. They

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 127

do not care for the mountains or their chilly atmosphere, an
objection likewise shown by perching birds in general. This bird
seems to bear the same disagreeable relation to the naturalist
abroad as the Vanellus mentioned by Mr. Darwin whilst
traversing La Plata country. Both follow you in the search,
acquaint the fauna of your presence, and have the very nasty
habit of talking loudly just when one would be glad to be quit of
them.

Closely connected to this species is the Bell Bird, Manorhina
melanophrys, Lath. In 1895 and 1896 a young friend at Bays-
water advised me of seeing the greenish-hued birds, and hearing
the single calls, which are like the notes of a cattle bell. The
young birds have the unruly tongue of the Garrulous, and gambol
amongst the foliage of the "gums" without any reserve. It
seemed to me during a late tour in the Grantville locality that the
adult birds owned the bell note, and were more reserved, keeping
to the scrub. Otherwise their ways are similar to the well-known
Garrulous. Beyond Bayswater to the south two or three little
flocks were seen. Laying season appears to be early and late,
and the nest is characteristic of the family.

The Ptilotis fusca (Gould), Fuscous Honey-eater, bears a
likeness to the more ordinary white-plumed. While the post-
auricular feathers are yellow in P. fusca, they are pure white in
P. penicillaia, and this is a key for regular specimens. P. fusca
has a strong interest in nectar-laden, low-growing flowers.

Melithreptus brevirostris, V. and H., the Short-billed Honey-
eater, is a particularly active bird amongst the stems and foliage
of our yellow box and other gums, where it gives voice to a series
of loud and frank notes.

The Lunulated Honey-eater, Melithreptus lunulatus, (*) Shaw,
includes M. chloropsis of Gould (Brit. Mus. Cat., vol. ix.) If not
the most active of the family, there is little to choose from
between its speed in flight and the one greater. It is an acrobat,
and falls from one bough to another without any change of form
to do so ; and if, while in the pendent position, it be easier to
make a somersault in order to arrive safely a few inches below,
it does so, and proceeds to the business of providing provender
or engaging in battle without loss of time. The nests are neatly
made and cup formed. One I found to be almost completely
lined with a layer of sheep's wool, and ornamented exteriorly
by wool — borrowed, stolen, or rightfully taken from a house near
the tree in which the nest was carefully hidden upon the higher
twigs of the highest bough. A lofty position is not always chosen,
but you would not be successful if you formed a rule to look low.
Eucalypt trees seem to satisfy them, both as regards food and
position for nest. Fruit strongly tempts young and old alike,
both native and introduced kinds ; but it is a considerable time

128 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

before they care to investigate trees bearing fruits they have not
been accustomed to.

By including the genus Zosterops in the Meliphagidse a cry will
surely rise from the oologists. After many years of careful and
laborious research it has been proved by the specialists that the
Zosterops, without exception (as far as I am aware), lay blue-green
eggs, while amongst the Honey -eaters the salmon tint prevails.

Oologists have for a champion Professor Newton, who, seeing
no special reason why the sub-family Zosteropinae should be placed
with the family Meliphagidse, leaves it an open question. Follow-
ing the classification adopted by the British Museum in this class,
I will include the Grey-backed Zosterops, Zosterops coerulescens,
Lath. (W.),* as a wanderer throughout southern Australia, and a
bird which requires further study from an economic point of view.

The family flocks are generally eight in number, and as they
travel through the orchards a slight warfare is made upon them,
for in spring and summer they feast upon small fruit, in winter
apples. To use an orchardist's expression, " they have quite gone
over to the enemy of late years, and we must deal with them
accordingly." Certainly its taste for commercial fruits is culti-
vated when opportunity stares it in the face ; but what about the
good which I am inclined to think it does ? I remember seeing
a Silver-eye hunting along a branch of a tall pear tree. An insect
fell from its hiding place, and simultaneously the bird swooped
perpendicularly in time to catch the lesser form, and with a right-
angled movement escape the ground, to which it was unpleasantly
close. A set strain of music by the bird, reminding one of the
Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus Australis, is occasionally blended with
its call note.

I have observed the callow young as late as ioth February,
1895, at the head of the Ovens River, where spring is late in
appearing. The eggs are laid on alternate days, and at an early
age the young assume the general plumage of the adult, and then
go through the detail of the seasonal changes.

Although this species concludes the local list, there is a visitor
in quantity at present and throughout the winter located in the
principal gardens of the city. It is the Singing Honey-eater,
Ptilotis sonora. A pleasant trill is the better part of its musical
execution, and its guttural notes remind one of the use of a
pestle in a metallic mortar. You may quickly detect it as a bird
more slim than the well-known greyish native Miner, streaked on
the breast and elongated tail.

The Honey-eaters are of a family whose acquaintance is well
worth cultivating, and a first introduction we may so easily obtain
from those unsurpassed works of Mr. John Gould, whose artist
wife has put much " life " into that portion done by her, and
which remains a noble memorial of two great workers.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 129

A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA.

By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S.

Part XXVII.

1043. L. tyrobathra, Meyr. (loc. cit., 511, 1893).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

1044. L. palleuca, Meyr. {loc. cit., 513, 1893).
Fernshaw and Mount Macedon.

ERTOCOTT1S. Z.

MESOPHERNA. Meyr.

*ic>45. M. palustris, Meyr. (loc. cit., 515, 1893).
Gisborne.

1046. M. castella, Walk. (Prays castella, Walk., B. M. Cat.,

551 ; Mesopherna castella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.

N.S.W., 515, 1893).
Melbourne.

1047. M. isomacra, Meyr. (loc. cit., 516, 1893).
Melbourne.

ACRIDOTARSA. Meyr.

IPHIERGA. Meyr.

ARDIOSTERES. Meyr.

*io48. A. Moretonella, Walk. (Tinea Moretonella,\N alk., Suppl.,
1,812; Ardiosteres Moretonella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W., 519, 1893).
Melbourne.

SCARDIA. Tr.

1049. S. Australasiella, Don. (Tinea Australasiella, Don., Ins.

N. H. ; T. cossuna, Lew., Ins. N.S.W., 19 ; T.
clathrata, Feld., Reis. Nov., pi. cxl., 30 ; Scardia
Australasiella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 521,

1893).

Gisborne, Melbourne, &c.

1050. S. inconcisella, Walk. (Tinea inconcisella, Walk., B. M.

Cat., 474 ; Scardia inconcisella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W., 522, 1893).
Melbourne.

*io5i. S. clonodes, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 523, 1893).
(?) Melbourne.

*ic>52. S. celsella, Walk. (Tinea celsella, Walk., 482 ; T.
adjunctella, ib., 1,006; S. celsella, Meyr., Proc. Linn.
Soc. N.S.W., 524, 1893).
Melbourne.

130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

*io53. S. pruvleva, Meyr. (loc. cit., 525, 1893).
Melbourne.

MIMOSCOPA. Meyr.
BLABOPHANES. Zeller.

1054. B. meliorella, Walk. {Tinea meliorella, Walk., 483 ; T.

oecophoroides, ib., 1,005 j ^'- vivipara, Scott, Trans.
Ent. Soc. N.S.W., i., 33, pi. iv. ; B. meliorella, Meyr.,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 527, 1893).
Melbourne, Gisborne, &c.

1055. B. argillacea, Meyr. (loc. cit., 528, 1893).
Gisborne, Melbourne.

1056. B. ethelella, Newra. [Tinea ethelella, Newm., Trans.

Ent. Soc. Lond., iii., N.S., 288 ; T. rectella, Walk.,
482 ; Blabophanes namuella, Feld., Reis. Nov., pi. cxl.,
44: B. ethelella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 97, 1887).
Melbourne, &c.

1057. B. ferrtjginella, Hb. (Tinea J'er rug inella, Hb. ; Blab-

ophanes ferruginella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 97,
1887).
Melbourne, &c.

TRICHOPHAGA. Rag. (see below).

TINEA. Linn.

*io58. T. monozona, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 533, 1S93).
Melbourne.

1059. T. fuscipunctella, Hw. (Tinea fuscipunctella, H\v., Meyr.,

Trans. N.Z. Inst., 100, 1887 ; Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W., 534, 1893).
Melbourne, &c.

1060. T. pellionella, Linn, (Meyr., loc. cit., 535, 1893).
Melbourne, &c.

fio6i. T. tapetiella, Linn. (T. tapetiella (tapetzella, Linn.),
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 98, 1887 ; Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W., 535, 1893 ; T. palasstrica, Butler, Proc. Linn.
Soc. Lond., 404, 1877).
Melbourne, &c.

1062. T. pyrotricha, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 536,

1893)-
Melbourne.

*io63- T. amaurodes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 536, 1896).
Melbourne.

t Now referred to Trichophaga, Rag.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 131

1064. T. diaphora, Meyr. (loc. cit., 537).
Melbourne.

*io65- T. erebocosma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 537).
Melbourne.

1066. T. tridectis, Meyr. (loc. cit., 538, 1893).
Melbourne.

1067. T. chaotica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 538).
Fernshaw.

*io68. T. tryphera, Meyr. (loc. cit., 541).
Melbourne (Caulfield).

*io69. T. spodina, Meyr. (loc. cit., 543).

Doubtfully Victorian.
*io7o. T. monophthalma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 543, 1893).
107 1. T. nectarea, Meyr. (loc. cit., 546, 1893).

Melbourne.

CHRYSORYCTIS. Meyr.

*io72. C xystidophora, Meyr. (loc. cit., 548).
Melbourne.

1073. C. fraudulenta, Ros. (Tinea fraudulens, Ros., Ann.
Mag. N.H., 437, pi. xi., 12, 1885; Ghrysoryctis
fraudulenta, Meyr., Proc. Linn Soc. N.S.W., 549,

1893)-

Melbourne, &c.

*io74. C. tyrannica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 549).

Gisborne.
1075. C. irruptella, Walk. (CEcophora irruptella, Walk., 686 ;
Chrysorycta irruptella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S.W, 550, 1893).
Melbourne.

^1076. C. purella, Walk. (Incurvaria purella, Walk., 491 ;
Chrysorycta purella, Meyr., loc. cit., 551).
Ararat.

*io77. C. hypocritica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 551).
Melbourne.

1078. C. ochranthes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 552).
Trafalgar.

*io79- C. meliphanes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 553).

Melbourne.

TINEOLA. H.S.
*io8o. T. p.iselliella, Hum. (Meyr., loc. cit., 554, 1893).

Melbourne, &c.

132 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

MACRAEOLA. Meyr.
DEMOBROTIS. Meyr.

*io8i. D. anaglypta, Meyr. (loc. cit., 556, 1893).
Stawell.

ENDOPHTHORA. Meyr.

MYCHONOA. Meyr.

DRYADAULA. Meyr.

CHOROCOSMA. Meyr.

COMODICA. Meyr.

1082. C. acontistes, Meyr. (Erechthias acontistes, Meyr., Proc.
Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 266, 1880 ; Comodica acontistes,
ib., loc. cit., 562, 1892).
Melbourne.

*io83. C. aellophora, Meyr. (Erechthias aellophora, ib., loc. cit.,
562, 1892).
Stawell.

1084. C. mystacinella, Walk. (Tinea mystacinella, Walk.,

B. M. Cat., 1006 ; Erechthias mystacinella, Meyr.,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 263, 1880 ; Comodica
mystacinella, ib., loc. cit., 562, 1892).
Melbourne.

EREUNETIS. Meyr.

1085. E. symmacha, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 564, 1893).
Melbourne.

*io86. E. iuloptera, Meyr. (loc. cit., 260, 1880; ib., loc. cit.,
565, 1892).

f ERECHTHIAS. Meyr.
EURYTELA. Meyr.
HIPPIOCHAETES. Meyr.

HIEROXESTIS. Meyr.

*io87- H. omoscopa, Meyr. (loc. cit., 567, 1892).
Sale.

TIMCEA. Walk.

1088. T. bivittatella, Walk, 521. (T. costella, ib., 521 ; Man-
liana astrictella, ib., 1012 ; Timosa bivittatella, Meyr.,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 568, 1892).

t This genus as now defined is confined to New Zealand.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 133

THUDACA. Walk.

1089. T. crypsidesma, Meyr. (loc. cit., 572, 1892).
Melbourne.

1090. T. obliquella, Walk. (825 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc.

N.S.W., 575, 1892).
Gisborne, Melbourne.

1091. T. trabeata, Meyr. (lor. cit., 578, 1892).
Melbourne.

DASC1A. Meyr.

1092. D. sagittifera, Meyr. (loc. cit., 579, 1892).
Melbourne.

ACMOSARA. Meyr.
ZELLERIA. Stt.

1093. Z. proterospila, Meyr. (loc. cit., 584, 1892).
Melbourne.

MACARANGELA. Meyr.
HESTIA ULA. Meyr.
TONZA. Walk.
NEMATOBOLA. Meyr.

1094. N. orthotricha, Meyr. (loc. cit., 292, 1892).

Sale.

HARPEDONIST1S. Meyr.

1095. H. gonometra, Meyr. (loc. cit., 594, 1892).
Warragul.

TBEREUTIS. Meyr.

AMPHITHERA. Meyr.

CATERISTIS. Meyr.
DIPLOTHECTIS. Meyr.
BEDELLIA. Stt.

1096. B. somnulentella, Zeller (Meyr., loc. cit., 170, 1880).
Melbourne.

ARCTOCOMA. Meyr.

BUCCULATRIX. Zeller.

LITHOCOLLET1S. Hb.

OR NIX. Tr.

EPTCEPHALA. Meyr.

GRACILARIA. Hw.

134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

1097. G. xanthopharella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 141, 1880).
Stawell.

1098. G. calicella, Stt. (Meyr., loc. cit., 150, 1880).
Melbourne.

1099. G. eumetalla, Meyr. (loc. cit., 160, 1880).
Melbourne.

tioo. G. lacinella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 164, 1880).
Gisborne.

1 10 1. G. alysidota, Meyr. (loc. cit., 161, 18S0).
Melbourne.

CORISCIUM. Zeller.
LEUCOPTERA. Hb.
LYONETIA. Hb.
PHYLLOCNISTIS. Zeller.
ATALOPSYCHA. Meyr.
STEGOMMATA. Meyr.

1 102. S. leptomitella, Meyr. ( Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 172,

1880).
Melbourne.

1 103. S. sulfuratella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 172, 1880).
Melbourne, Gisborne.

CROBYLOPHORA. Meyr.

1 104. C. chrysidiella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 178, 1880).
Melbourne.

OPOSTEGA. Zeller.

*no5. O. stiriella, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 175, 1S80).
Melbourne, Frankston.

NEPTICULA. Zeller.

This part practically concludes the catalogue for the present.
In the near future I will give further additions. I estimate that
the number of species to be enumerated will reach quite 3,000.
Although the period of publication has been somewhat protracted
beyond my original intentions, I hope that it has not proved
wearisome to our readers. As I before stated in my opening
remarks, this catalogue is simply the nucleus of something better
to follow. If it, however, serves the purpose for which it is
intended I shall be more than satisfied with the attempt. In
conclusion I would like to thank each and all of those friends
who have so kindly helped in the compilation.

Broken Hill, October, 1897.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

135

SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF
GROUPS AND FAMILIES.

I.

Castniidas

26.

NOCTUINA

2.

Agaristida?

27.

Pyralidina

3"

Syntomididas

28.

Epipaschiada;

4-

Zygasnida;

29.

Pyralididae

5-

Sphingina

3°-

Musotimidae

6.

BOMBYCINA

3i-

Hydrocampida>

7-

Hepialida?

32.

Botydidae

8.

Cossidas

33-

Scopariada?

9-

Zeuzeridae

34-

Crambidas

IO.

Psychidaa

35-

Galleridas

ii.

Limacodidae

36.

Phycitidae

12.

Arctiadae

37-

Oxychirotidae

13-

Hypsidas

38.

Pterophoridas

14.

Liparidae

39-

Alucitidas

IS-

Bombycidae

40.

Tortricina

16.

Notodontida:

41.

Tortricidae

17-

Saturnida;

42.

Grapholithidae

18.

Strophidiadae

43-

Conchylidae

19-

Geometrina

44-

Xyloryctidae

20.

Hydriomenida^

45-

Gicophoridas

21.

Monocteniada;

46.

Gelechiadae

2 2.

Desmobathrida?

47-

Elachistida;

23-

Sterrhidae

48.

Plutellidas

24.

Geometridae

49.

Tineidas

25-

Selidosemida?

136

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

INDEX TO GROUPS AND FAMILIES.

Note. — The figures in ( ) denote page in the reprinted catalogue, the other figures the
volume and page of original publication in the Victorian Naturalist.

Vol.

Page

Vol.

Page

2.

Agaristidas

(2)

X.

13

26.

NOCTUINA (

45)

xi.

I05

39-

Alucitidae

(66)

xii.

70

»i

49)

xi.

153

12.

Arctiadas

(7)

X.

33

16.

Notodontidas

:i6)

X.

68

it

(9)

X.

5i

45-

Glcophoridae

77)

xiii.

41

i5-

Bombycidae

(14)

X.

66

)>

so

xiii.

65

6.

BOMBYCINA

(5)

X.

3i

;j

;s5)

xiii.

121

32-

Botydidae

(56)

xii.

12

)?

:s9)

xiv.

13

)?

(57)

xii.

21

y,

:93)

xiv.

45

i.

Castniidas

(2)

x.

13

11

(97)

xiv.

77

43-

Conchylidas

(72)

xii.

112

37-

Oxychirotidae

[66)

xii.

70

>»

(73)

xii.

149

36.

Phycitidae

(63)

xii.

59

8.

Cossidas

(6)

X.

32

ii

(65)

xii.

69

34-

Crambidas

(61)

xii.

57

48.

Plutellidte (

01)

xiv.

117

22.

Desmobathridce (27

I X.

115

10.

Psycbidae

(6)

X.

32

47-

Elachistidaa

(100)

xiv.

80

38.

Pterophoridce

,66)

xii.

70

>)

(101)

xiv.

117

29.

Pyralididas

(52)

xi.

156

28.

Epipaschiadae (51)

xi.

155

y>

(S3)

xii.

9

35-

Galleriadas

(63)

xii.

59

27.

Pyralidina (

,50

xi.

155

46.

Gelechiadae

(98)

xiv.

78

17-

Saturnidas

,16)

X.

68

24.

Geometridae

(27)

X.

115

33-

Scopariadae

60)

xii.

24

5 »

(29)

X.

161

11

;6i)

xii.

57

19-

Geometrina (17)

X.

81

25.

Selidosemidae

:3i)

X.

163

42.

Grapholithidae(7i)

xii.

in

?)

33)

xi.

57

7-

Hepialidae

(5)

X.

3i

11

{37)

X.

81

20.

Hydriomenidas( 17)

X.

81

5-

Sphingina

(4)

X.

15

)>

(20)

X.

97

23-

Sterrhidae \

27)

X.

115

3i-

Hydrocampidae( 5 5 )

xii.

11

3-

Syntomididae

(3)

X.

14

13-

Hypsidas

(11)

x.

53

49.

Tineidaa (

03)

xiv.

119

11.

Limacodidae

(7)

X.

33

(

05)

xiv.

129

14.

Liparidas

(12)

X.

54

41.

Tortricidae

67)

xii.

7i

>)

(13)

X.

65

ii

(69)

xii.

109

21.

Monocteniadaa(23)

X.

99

40.

TORTRICINA

(67)

xii.

7i

5?

(25)

X.

113

44.

Xyloryctidas

[73)

xii.

149

30.

Musotimidai

(54)

xii.

10

9-

Zeuzeridae

(6)

X.

32

26.

NOCTUINA

5)

(38)
(4i)

xi.
xi.

82
93

4-

Zygrenidaj

(3)

X.

14

THE

|1 i c t o r i cut Itaturali*!*

Vol. XIV.— No. 10. FEBRUARY 10, 1898. No. 170.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 17th January, 1898.
The president, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., occupied the chair, and
some 25 members were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to Heidelberg on Saturday,
15th January, was read by the leader, Mr. J. Stickland, who
mentioned that a lot of promising-looking material was obtained,
but, so far, time had not allowed its proper examination. However,
numerous species of Protozoa and some Rotifers had been noted.

The hon. secretary reported that the meeting for practical
work was attended by the usual number, and that the evening
had been devoted to the study of " The Glands," under the
direction of the Rev. W. Fielder.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. D. Best mentioned that the Rev. W. Fielder had been
appointed lecturer on biology at Trinity College, and voiced the
opinion of members in congratulating such an enthusiastic worker
on his appointment.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled " The Bird Fauna of the Box Hill
District — Larks, &c."

The author continued his notes of personal observations in the
field of the occurrence, habits, &c, of the birds mentioned, and
the value of his and similar work was cordially endorsed by those
who spoke on the paper.

2. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., entitled "Botanists of the
1 6th Century, illustrated by their Works."

In this the author gave an account of the botanists of that
period, mentioned their various published works, and handed
round for inspection several of the principal ones. An informal
discussion followed, aided by references to the books and ex-
amination of the plates, more especially in regard to the names
of several common plants that have been continued in the present
system of nomenclature. Mr. Luehmann promised to continue
the subject in future papers.

3. By Mr. F. M. Reader, entitled " Contributions to the Flora
of Victoria, No. 4."

-*&'

138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

This consisted of the technical description of an orchid dis-
covered and named by the author, as new to science, Prasophyl-
lum fusco-viride.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. D. Best read a note on the life-history of the longicorn
beetle, Scolecobrotus Westivoodii, in connection with his exhibit of
the beetle and the branches in which the larvae had grown to
maturity.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits : — By Mr. F. G.
A. Barnard. — Bifurcated irond of Tree Fern, Dicksonia Antarctica
(cultivated), also portion of frond of Queensland Ribbon Fern,
Ophioglossum pendulum, Linn., showing fructification. By Mr.
D. Best. — Specimens of beetle, Scolecobrotus Westwoodii. By
Mr. A. Coles. — Egg of the Black-breasted Buzzard, Gypoictinia
melanosterna, from New South Wales ; also four specimens of
the cuckoo Eiidynamus Flindersi, from Queensland. By Mr.
C. French, F.L.S. — Exotic butterflies (Papilionidse), including ten
species of the genus Omithoptera. By Mr. C. French, jun.—
Rare eggs of Sterna melanauchen, Black-naped Tern, from North
Queensland. By Mr. J. Haase. — Victorian skippers, Hesperilla
Donnysa and H. flammeata, Trapezites idothea, and the scarce
T. Andersoni ; also larvae of the butterfly Xenica Hobarti, reared
from eggs. By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Orchid, PrasophyUum fusco-
viride, in illustration of his paper. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. —
Rare eggs of Crested Hawk from New South Wales, and White-
eyed Duck from Macorna, and also egg of Brush Cuckoo found
in nest of the Scarlet-breasted Robin with two of the latter's ;
also adult and young male specimens of Brush Cuckoo.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO BLACK ROCK.

This excursion, which took place on Saturday, nth December,
was fairly attended. On arriving at Black Rock we were
rather disgusted to find that it was almost high tide. However,
by means of long sticks we were enabled to get a fair lot of repre-
sentative sea-weeds. The commonest was the green, thin Ulva
latissima ; its broken lettuce-like leaves were strewn all along the
shore, as well as lining the few tide pools that could be reached.
Two distinct species of Cladophora were also found growing on
the rocks. Mixed with these were the slimy masses of Entero-
morpha ; this is a curious plant, forming tufts of long, green, hollow
hairs. The attention of the party was next directed to the long,
soft fronds of Caulerpa Brownii and C odium elongata. These are
apparently alike, but their structure is very different, the caulerpa
being really unicellular although so very complex ; it is easily dis-

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 139

tinguished by its long creeping stems, which give off at intervals
bright-green, upright, cylindrical, branching fronds. They feel
like soft velvet, only rather slimy. Harvey says that their repro-
duction is still unknown. Although they have absolutely no
division walls in their structure, they have a system of vegetable
beams and rafters which keeps their outside walls in position. The
Codium has the same soft, slimy feel, and is green and cylindrical,
but there the likeness ceases, being multicellular, the inside of the
stems being solid. From the solid centre spring thousands of tiny
hairs like the pile of velvet ; between, or rather growing on these
hairs, or ramuli, as they are called, are thousands of zoospores from
which new plants arise. Another Caulerpa (very rare), C. sedioides,
was also found ; it consists of branching fronds bearing bright-
green air bladders. The tide was so very high that it prevented
the party from obtaining many specimens of really local plants
— these, of course, must be found growing on the rocks, or their
exact locality cannot be determined. It is to be hoped that
another excursion may be settled for some Saturday when a low
tide may be reckoned on, for the members of the party were
tantalized by seeing thousands of plants growing on the rocks,
but entirely beyond reach. Black Rock is evidently a well
chosen ground under favourable circumstances. It would be
very interesting to follow out the different families that grow in
pools left by the retiring waves, commencing with those that are
first uncovered, and in which will be found many kinds of green
seaweed (Chlorosperma). Gradually, as one explores seaward, the
green will be seen to give place to olive-green, brown, and even
almost black seaweeds. In the lowest tide pools, or under some
of the larger brown seaweeds, may be obtained a number of the
red seaweeds. However, our party had to content itself by
dragging out masses of seawrack, from amongst which quite a
number of good specimens were obtained. The delicate fronds
of Callithamnion Griffithsia, Areschougia, and Plocamium were
mixed up with great masses of different kinds of Fucacea. No
less than six of these last were obtained, including Sargassum,
Sierococcus, Cystophira, Hormosira, and Ecklonia. The broad,
serrated fronds of Ecklonia were especially noticeable. Other
brown seaweeds were Myriodesma, Haliseris, Myriocladia, and
Zonaria. A few pieces of the white, coral-like Amphora were
mixed up amongst the long branches of brown Cystophora, and
the serrated edges of a beautiful bright red Phacelocarpus were
entwined amongst the long, nearly black, grass-like fronds of
Melanthalia. A great number of leaf-like fronds were found, but
although somewhat resembling the smaller species of Lenormandia,
we were inclined to think that they belonged to some land plant.
Only one species of Gelidium was obtained ; this was a green
variety, G. y land u folium. It is particularly necessary to see if

140 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

this seaweed is common on the shores of the Bay, as it may
become a useful article of commerce ; it is very plentiful at
Barwon Heads after a storm. Some of our party turned their
attention to zoology. Several egg bags belonging to sharks and
dogfish were obtained, and a rather uncommon specimen of
nudibranch mollusc was found on one of the rocks, as well as
several varieties of Diatoms and Hydroids.

After thoroughly working out the narrow fringe of shore that
could be reached under the circumstances, the party turned its
attention to the maritime plants growing at the bases of the steep
rises towards Beaumaris, where the following plants were found
in flower : — Lobelia pratiodes, Apium proslrata, Goodenia geni-
culates and ovata, Calocephahis Brownii, and A triplex cinereum.

Altogether it was a most enjoyable and interesting trip, and
the members returned to town thoroughly satisfied with their
outing. — H. T. Tisdall.

NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION OF THE EMU WREN.

By G. E. Shepherd.
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, lAth December, 1897 J
As but little is known concerning the nidification of that beautiful
and most interesting bird the Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus,
Lath. (V.), I shall endeavour to give some information regarding
its nesting habits, some of which, at least, I hope will be new to
members and others taking an interest in oology.

In the first place I may say that the birds are far from rare,
though the eggs are exceedingly so — a fact no doubt, due to the
extreme difficulty experienced in finding the nest. In October,
1892, I found my first nest in the following curious manner. I
had noticed a White Egret flying along the ed;^e of the tide on the
shore of Western Port Bay, and being anxious to secure the
bird, I commenced stalking through the scrub fringing the fore-
shore. Whilst so engaged I flushed an Emu Wren from a thick
Salonica bush, and discovered the nest, situated in the thickest
part of the foliage, and containing three eggs, which were nearly
hatched. Possessed of the knowledge thus obtained, I made
repeated and persistent efforts to again find a nest, but without
success until September, 1895, on the 14th of which month I
succeeded in finding a nest containing two fresh eggs. This nest
I also found accidentally through riding across a shallow swamp
fringed with stunted ti-tree, from amongst which I saw the bird
flutter, and after a short search discovered the nest. Two days
afterwards I discovered another nest in a patch of thick, low
scrub. In this instance three eggs were taken, somewhat in-
cubated, one of which broke when being blown. Unfortunately

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 141

I was not successful in finding any nests last season, though I
made diligent search.

Owing to the absence of bush fires last summer the birds were
more numerous this spring than for some years, hence I devoted
all my spare time during the latter part of September and the
whole of October in searching for their nests. On 26th Septem-
ber I found a nest in which were three eggs slightly incubated.
The nest was placed at a height of 18 inches from the ground
among low dense scrub in a swampy locality. On the same date
I also discovered the nest exhibited to-night, which the birds
deserted, probably owing to my disturbing their nesting operations,
as I saw the female within a few feet of the nest. This nest
I have brought with as much surroundings as possible, and it
will, I think, enable all interested to get a fairly good idea of the
situations favoured by these birds for nesting. In this instance
a space of two feet separated the nest from the ground, and in
every instance coming under my notice the nests are situated
among scrub, thick, low, and dense, and matted together with
the wiry creeper as in the case of the nest exhibited. I subse-
quently found one nest and three fresh eggs ; also, two nests,
containing three and four eggs respectively, both the latter sets
being nearly hatched; besides two others containing young birds.

As all the nests were at a considerable distance from my home,
1 had no opportunity of watching them for more than a brief
period, which, however, enabled me to observe the female return
to the nest on two occasions, and take her place upon the eggs.
This she apparently does by " backing " into the nest, hence her
long tail sticks outwards through the entrance and over her head,
a conclusion forced upon me (even without the necessity of eye-
witnessing) from the extreme length of the tail and size and
shape of the nest. The eggs are somewhat large for the bird, and,
like many other species, differ considerably in their markings.
Nearly all of those taken by me may be likened to the eggs of
Malurus cyaneus, but considerably smaller. The nest is much
more compact than the Blue Wren's, smaller, and much better
finished, besides being more artfully concealed. As Gould has
truly remarked, the bird's powers of flight are but feeble ; hence it
depends mainly upon its wonderful activity upon the ground as a
means of escape from danger, and the dense undergrowth found in
the localities it frequents.

In the year 1863 Mr. E. P. Ramsay has described in the
Ibis the finding by himself of a nest two years previously on
Long Island, containing three eggs. This nest, he states, was
concealed under a wind-bent tussock, near the ground, and was so
loosely constructed that great care had to be exercised to prevent
it falling to pieces on removal. His experience differs somewhat
from mine, as all the nests I have found have been placed from

142 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

eight inches to three feet from the ground, and are decidedly
well-built, compact structures. These birds have probably few
natural enemies, their diminutive size making them unworthy the
notice of the larger birds of prey. Their extinction, so far as my
district is concerned, is at most a matter of a few years, as in-
creased settlement, and the consequent burning of all scrub-clad
areas, will ultimately exterminate them. The usual clutch is, in all
probability, three eggs, and as I have, so far, never found a nest
late in the season I am inclined to the belief that but one brood
is reared in each year. I have never found the birds among crops
or in cultivated areas, though they may frequent such places if
adjacent to their natural habitat.

NOTES ON THE EGG OF THE SHORT-TAILED
ALBATROSS.

By A. J. Campbell.

( Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, loth December, 189 7.)

Of the fifteen species and varieties of albatrosses inhabiting the
globe, twelve of them fly the ocean wastes of the Southern seas,
therefore most of them occur in Australian or New Zealand
waters. The remaining three species are found in the North
Pacific Ocean.

The Short-tailed Albatross, Diomedea albatrus, belongs to
the northern birds, and is supposed to range as far south as the
seas of the northern part of Australia. This fine bird resembles
the Wandering Albatross, from which it may be distinguished, as
Gould points out, by the shortness of its tail and by the
truncated form of the base of the bill.

There is a halo of romance surrounding this family of great
oceanic birds, chiefly, I think, on account of the weirdness or
sublime isolation of their breeding homes. These are, for
instance, the island of Tristan d'Acunha, with its mist-enveloped
mountain peak 8,ooo feet above sea level ; Prince Edward
Island, where snow in midsummer (December) covers its sharply-
shaped mountains ; islands of the Crozet Group, towering from
the water's edge in great basaltic cliffs and hills to a height
of 4,000 feet ; and Kerguelen's Land, or Captain Cook's Islands
of Desolation (whither two of our field naturalists, Messrs.
H. Gundersen and Robert Hall, have gone). Islands capped
with towering conical peaks (6,ooo feet high), sheltering a glacier,
although very imposing, are, according to navigators, severe and
sterile, with a dismal climate — rain and snow even at mid-
summer— and where gales are said to rage for three weeks out
of four. Surely this region must be one of the " Chambers

THE VICTORIAN' NATURALIST. 143

of the South" from whence arise Meteorologist Wragge's
classical storms. Coming nearer Australian shores we have
Campbell Island, a complete contrast to Kerguelen ; for,
although a full degree nearer Antarctica, Campbell Island is
verdure clad almost to its central peak — Lyall Hill, 1,355 ^eet above
the sea — and girt about the base with Ironwood, so called ; thick
with dark green foliage and stems gnarled and twisted by many a
gale ; while at our own door is the Albatross Rock of Flinders,
bald and bleak, breaking the swell of the Southern Ocean near
the north-west corner of Tasmania, where our members — Messrs.
D. Le Souef, H. P. C. Ashworth, and Gabriel — landed so
recently.

Such places are some of the breeding haunts of the
albatrosses.

The Short-tailed Albatross, however, breeds in northern lati-
tudes. The eggs I have received through the agency of Mr.
Alan Owston, Yokohama, Japan, were taken on Bonin Islands,
where the eggs are laid at the end of October and the beginning
of November. It is most interesting to note that, although these
months are the fall of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, they
correspond with the laying season of the albatrosses in the south,
thus proving, I think, that the Short-tailed Albatross was once a
dweller with or sprang from the southern birds, and became
isolated in the north.

Nest. — None, the egg being laid on the bare ground.

Egg. — Clutch one. Lengthened, or a longish oval in shape,
more compressed at one end ; texture of shell coarse and strong ;
surface rough, with just a perceptible trace of gloss ; colour, dirty
or yellowish-white, more or less ingrained or stained with earth,
and with a rusty-coloured or rufous-brown cap of freckled or
blotchy markings on the larger end. In addition, some examples
have, here and there over the rest of the shell, dull purplish-
brown spots. Dimensions in inches — (1) 4.67 x 2.9 ; (2) 4.65 x
2.95. A smaller example in Dr. Charles Ryan's collection
measures 4.26 x 2.63.

We are all more or less interested in these splendid sea-birds —
the albatrosses — and it behoves us especially as a Naturalists'
Club to see that the " rookery " at our own door is protected.
Bird-oil is a valuable commodity, worth ^£20 per ton, and the
teeming numbers of birds on some of the southern islands are
attracting commercial attention. A company is at present working
Macquarie Island.

Nothing would be easier than for an enterprising party to swoop
down, some autumn season, upon Albatross Rock and boil down
the birds there, both old and young. So, for the sake of a few
barrels of oil, the only species of albatross peculiar to Australia
would be, if not altogether, well-nigh annihilated.

141

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

NOTES ON THE BRONZE CUCKOO.
By A. J. Campbell.

(Readbefore the Field Naturalists'1 Club of Victoria, 13th December, 1897.)

The familiar Bronze Cuckoo, Chalcites 2>^ffonus, Lath, (its
egg also being bronze-coloured), is migratory over the whole of
Australia and Tasmania.

The whistling note of the Bronze Cuckoo is usually first heard
in the vicinity of Melbourne during the season in August. I
have a record one year when I heard this bird as early as the
3rd of that month. Of course, the majority of these cuckoos
arrive during September, a few laying by the end of that month,
while the general laying season includes the months of October,
November, and December.

In selecting a foster parent for its offspring the beautiful Bronze
Cuckoo generally chooses the covered-in nests of the Acanthiza
(Tit) tribe, but other species of dome-shaped or secluded nests
are chosen, while I have a record of only three instances where
open nests were selected. The following is the list of foster birds
known : —

Vernacular Name.

Yellow-rumped Tit
Buff-rumped ,,
Little Brown ,,
Striated ,,

Little Yellow ,,
Tasmanian , ,

Western „

Banded Wren

Blue ,,

White-throated Scrub-Tit
Large-billed ,,

White-throated Fly-eater
Brown ,,

Red-browed Finch
Brown Tree-Creeper
*Short-billed Fly-eater ..
*Emu Wren

Scarlet-breasted Robin ..
White-fronted Bush-Chat

Scientific Name.

Geobasileus chrysorrhcea

G. reguloides

Acanthiza pusilla ...

A. lineata ...

A. nana

A. diemenensis

A. apicalis

Mahmis splendens

M. cyaneus

Sericornis citreogularis .

S. magnirostris

Gerygone albigularis

G. fusca

/Egintha temporalis

Climacteris scandens

Smicrornis brevirostris .

Stipiturus malachurus

Petroeca leggii

By Whom First
Recorded or
Reported.
Gould
E. P. Ramsay

A. E. Brent
A. J. C.

Gould

A.'j. C.

H. Lau
H. Barnard
A. T. C.
A. J. North
G. Bateman
E. P. Ramsay

A J. C.

J. Sommers

G. E. Shepherd

Ephthianura albifrons
Orange- winged Tree- Runner Sittella chrysoptera

To the foregoing list may be added that troublesome introduc-
tion, the House Sparrow, an apparently deserted nest having
been taken near Warrnambool, which contained an addled egg
of the Bronze Cuckoo — date Christmas, 1893. In New Zealand,
also, I believe an egg of a Bronze Cuckoo was found in a

*I have included these as foster birds under this species, although Dr.
Ramsay does not make it clear to which of the two Bronze Cuckoos they
should belong. Vide P.Z.S., 1865 and 1869.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 145

sparrow's nest, which contained likewise three legitimate eggs.
One November my son Archie observed a sparrow chasing a
cuckoo from the verandah of our house, where sparrows were
nesting.

The Tree-Creeper (Climacteris), as a foster bird, is mentioned on
the evidence of the late Mr. Gilbert Bateman, a trapper, whose
suspicions were aroused by seeing a Bronze Cuckoo emerging
from a hole in a tree. An examination proved that the cuckoo
had deposited its egg among the rich red-coloured clutch of the
Tree- Creeper. The nest was not far down, and could be seen from
the entrance of the hole.

While in the " Big Scrub," New South Wales, in several
instances I abstracted the eggs of this Bronze Cuckoo from the
bulky nest of the Yellow-throated Scrub-Tit, Sericornis citreo-
gularis, together with the larger eggs of the rightful owner. Only
once did I take the strange egg in the nest of the other Scrub-
Tit, the Large-billed, or 8. magnirostris, also so common in this
locality, as Mr. Lau did in the South Queensland scrubs.

As these nests are similarly constructed, and frequently near
each other, I thought it remarkable that the cuckoo should select
one in preference to the other.

In the West the Bronze Cuckoo eggs I there found were in
nests with clutches of the Western Tit, Acanthiza apicalis. I
also noticed these birds feeding a young cuckoo.

While in a forest near Cape Leeuwin during October, 1889,
I made the following curious entry in my field book : —

"Four or five Bronze Cuckoos in shining coats making a great
stir in a low tree, chasing each other and all the while making
melancholy, tremulous, whistling noises. Anxious to ascertain
the cause of the disturbance, I approached too close to the little
company, which immediately departed to another tree."

Occasionally two Bronze Cuckoos' eggs were deposited in the
same nest. I find that under date 2nd November, 1886, I took
a pair of bronzy coloured eggs from a nest of the Yellow-tailed
Tit (Geobasileus), near Doncaster, Victoria. Mr. C. French, jun.,
recorded in the Victorian Naturalist a similar instance that
came under his observation during the season 1889.

Other species of cuckoos' eggs are occasionally found in the
same bird's nest with that of the Bronze Cuckoo, as Mr. Brent's
note quoted under the Fantailed Cuckoo, and the following
remarks by Dr. Ramsay, prove.

" From a nest of Acanthiza nana," Dr. Ramsay says, " I
remember taking, in the year 1855, no less than six eggs.
Among them were three Bronze Cuckoos' — two of Chalcites
playosus and one of C. basalts. In November last (1864) we
took another nest of the same species, containing one of each
variety. In this instance one of the eggs of C. plagosus was

146 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

embedded below the lining of the nest, and had evidently been
laid just before the nest was completed, as is not infrequently
the case. The other egg, which was a specimen of C. basalis,
my brother Percy placed in a nest of Acanthiza lineata, which
he had found on the previous day, and left for such an occasion.
On returning to it about a week afterwards we found the young
cuckoo had been hatched. After a lapse of seven days the
bronze feathers were just beginning to appear, and in about a
week or ten days more the young bird was able to fly, the
bronze on the wings, head, and back now showing plainly.

" Now, as the apertures of the nests of the Acanthiza are
exceedingly small, a question naturally arises whether the Bronze
Cuckoo lays its eggs in the nest or places them there by some
other means.

" To this I can only answer that the apertures of those nests
which have contained cuckoos' eggs are nearly twice as wide as
the openings of those nests which we have taken before the
cuckoo's egg has been deposited in them. This is more easily
noticed in the nest of A. lineata, of which the aperture is very
small and nearly covered over with a hood."

NOTES ON SCOLECOBROTUS WESTWOODII, Hope.

This is a longicorn beetle, for which a collector may, as in my
case, look almost in vain for years, for in all my experience I
have taken but a single specimen in the open, and yet, when its
habitat becomes known, it is fairly common. Why it is so rarely
taken is rather difficult to explain. My surmise is that the
beetle, when it emerges, remains on the upper branches, and
sooner or later becomes food for birds. This would also account
for neither the dead beetle or its remains being found round the
butts of the trees. In colour it is of a light brownish-grey, and
in length from 12 to 16 lines. It breeds mostly in the Yellow
Box, Eucalyptus melliodora, and if the branches blown down by
the strong equinoctial gales of August or September be examined,
it will be noticed that the lower ends present the appearance
of having been eaten away, with the exception of a very small
portion, thus rendering them easily liable to be broken or blown
off. This eating away is done by the poweiful mandibles of the
larvae or grub of the beetle, but for what exact purpose I cannot
say. The grub, which when extended averages one and a
half to two inches in length, and is of a dirty white or slaty
colour, enters the branch at nearly its thinnest portion, and then
tunnels its way down two, three, four, and sometimes even a
greater number of feet, when for a reason of its own it eats away
round the branch until only a small support is left, as mentioned

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 147

above. Sometimes the grub remains in the branch blown down,
sometimes in the other portion, in which latter case it is very
difficult to obtain without the aid of an axe. My specimens
have all been secured from the blown down branches, and the
beetle generally emerges about the following August or Sep-
tember. All that is necessary is to place the wood in a box with
a glass front and a fine gauze or wire back. Of course I have
not been successful with every larva I have taken, many
unfortunately dying, owing to the sap of the wood drying up so
quickly.

In examining the branch, if the tunnel is open it is more than
likely there is no grub in it, but should it be plugged up then it
is almost certain to be there. In a branch where there is a grub
a careful examination will reveal several very small holes, from
which, presumably, the casts or gnawings of the grub are ejected ;
at all events, if a grub is followed down, the tunnel will always be
found clean and clear, wherein it altogether differs from the grubs
of the numerous species of Phoracantha — also longicorn beetles —
which seemingly eject nothing, but leave all their casts behind
them, and when found are in a chamber just sufficiently large
to hold them. It is wonderful the long tunnels some of the
grubs of the longicorn beetles will make, and if one wants to
form an idea of the rapidity with which they work, let him get a
branch containing a grub of Scolecobrotus Westiooodii, place it on a
table at night, and in the morning he will see thrown out a pile of
little oval pieces of wood that will fairly astonish him. How often
do we hear people speak of the many branches blown down by
the wind — blown down they certainly are, but there would not be
a fourth of the number were it not for the grubs of Scolecobrotus
and other longicorn beetles.

With the beetles are examples of the branches from which I
have bred them. The single specimen of beetle differs from the
others in being much rougher, but I fancy it is only a variety,
although a rare one, for it is the only specimen I have taken. 1
found the larva in a piece of dry wood which I accidentally
picked up when out collecting, and scarcely hoped or expected to
find anything in it.

D. Best.

OBSERVATIONS ON XEBOTES SOBOBIA,

F. V. MllELLKR.

By J. G. Lukh.mann, F.L.S.,

Curator of the National Herbarium.

Some time ago I received from Mr. H. B. Williamson,
of Hawkesdale, a specimen that had been collected by Miss

148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Burkhill at Lillimur, near the South Australian border, and which
I took at first for Xerotes juncea. Upon closer examination,
however, I find it to be a variety of the imperfectly known
X. sororia. It may be of interest to give a description of the
male plant, the only form collected.

Xerotes sororia, F. v. M., var. teres.

Stock tufted, surrounded by sheathing scales. Leaves or barren
shoots rush-like, attaining about a foot in length, terete, stiff,
slightly striate, glabrous. Flowering scapes about 3 inches long,
simple or slightly branched, with thin pale shining scales below
the flowers. Flowers pale coloured, in small clusters or singly
disposed along the spike, sessile within small scarious bracts.
Outer perianth -segments ovate, almost hyaline, shining ; inner
segments slightly longer, ovate, free to near the base like the
outer ones, very turgid and fleshy in the middle and lower part.
Stamens : The three opposite the outer perianth segments on
very short filaments, the other three sessile and attached to the
centre of the inner segments. Rudimentary pistil present.

Ants and Aphides. — A small species of ant, commonly dis-
tributed in the Mallee, has a curious habit of keeping in close
confinement a rather large mealy aphis, which feeds on the stems
of young eucalypts. Round and over these aphides the ants
construct a domed covering of particles of bark, grass, &c, which
serves the double purpose of imprisoning the aphides and exclud-
ing other ants. Some of these coverings appear to be entirely
closed, while others have an opening left in the edge ; this door-
way is, however, constantly guarded by a pair of ants, which
continually move about in the open space, and seem much
impressed with the importance of the duty assigned to ihem.
Each enclosure contains generally from three to a dozen aphides,
and about the same number of ants. Upon making a breach in
some of these structures, for the purpose of observation, I have
noticed that many of the " live stock " were immediately seized
by the ants and forcibly removed to a place of safety. The ant
under notice is about a quarter of an inch in length, and is of a uni-
form dark reddish-brown colour, and forms its ordinary habitation
under logs, or in old rotten stumps, and sometimes in the ground.
Several other species of ants are very assiduous in their attend-
ance on the various aphides, Tetigonidng, and coccids, but the
above is the only kind I have noticed that uses such extraordinary
means to secure a monopoly of the much-prized " honey-dew."
— J. C. Goudie. Birchip, 28th January, 1898.

THE

Qxjctovxan U a t n v a 1 1 # L

Vol. XIV.— No. 11. MARCH 10, 1898. No. 171.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th February, 1898.
Mr. J. Shepherd, a vice-president, occupied the chair, and
about 50 members and visitors were present.

REPORT.

A brief report of the excursion to Nar-Nar-Goon on 26th
January was given by Mr. D. Best, who stated that, doubtless
owing to the exceptionally hot and dry season, insect life, usually
very plentiful in the district, was exceedingly scarce, and nothing
of note was captured.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

In pursuance of notice, Mr. A. J. Campbell moved — "That the
Tasmanian Government be approached with a view to having the
Albatrosses on Albatross Island protected by law." This was
seconded by Mr. D. Best, and, after some discussion, carried. On
the proposition of Mr. D. Best, Messrs. Campbell, Le Souef, and
Coghill were deputed to interview the Premier of Tasmania, at
present in Melbourne, and represent the Club's wishes to him.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. W. H. F. Hill, entitled " Notes on the Terrestrial
Isopod, Phreatoicopsis terricola, Spencer and Hall/'

The author supplemented the description of this crustacean
recently read before the Royal Society of Victoria with some field
observations on its colour, habits, and localities where found.

2. By Mr. G. A. Keartland, " Ornithological Notes from
Central Australia," part ii.

The author continued his interesting notes on the birds seen
in Central Australia while travelling with the Horn Exploring
Expedition, pointing out the localities of their occurrence on the
map, and in many cases exhibiting the eggs in illustration of his
remarks.

The paper gave rise to some discussion as to the distribution
of some of the birds mentioned, in which Messrs. Campbell,
Coles, Le Souef, and others took part.

3. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, entitled " Discovery of the Nest
and Eggs of the Australian Snipe, Gallinago Australia."

The author gave a brief account of the bird, which has been
known to science for nearly a century, but its nest and eggs were
unknown until last year, when, through his instigation, Mr. Allan

150 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Ovvston, of Yokohama, succeeded in finding the nest and eggs on
the slopes of Mt. Fujiyama, Japan, about 2,500 feet above sea
level. Some account of the bird's migrations was given, their
residence in Victoria being from about the middle of August to
the middle of following March.

Some discussion followed, in which Messrs. Barnard, Keartland,
Le Souef, Coles, and others joined.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. A. J. Campbell read a note reporting the finding of the
Large-billed Scrub-Wren at Cape York, North Queensland, and at
Loch, Victoria, thus considerably extending its recorded range.

Mr. A. J. Campbell also contributed a note on the Large-billed
Shrike-Robin, Uopsaltria magnirostris, Ramsay, of which he
recently received eggs from Richmond River district, N.S.W.

Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., read a note on a new Polygala
from Western Australia.

The Chairman drew attention to the frames of mounted and
named Algse presented to the Club by Mr. H. T. Tisdall, and
thanked him for them. Mr. Tisdall stated in reply that the
Algae were typical specimens from outside Port Phillip Heads,
which he had prepared for exhibition at the recent meeting of the
Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in
Sydney, and that he hoped to be able at some future date to
present a series typical of the Algce of Port Phillip Bay. Mr.
Coghill referred to the excellence with which all Mr. Tisdall's
work was done, and the example thus placed before all workers
in natural history.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. T. T. Brittlebank, per Mr. C. French, F.L.S.— Oil
paintings of Australian birds by Mr. E. J. Cox, Clarence River,
N.S.W. By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Eggs of Australian Snipe;
skins (male and female) and eggs of Large-billed Shrike-Robin,
skin of Large-billed Scrub-Wren (new for Victoria). By Mr. A.
Coles. — Two eggs of Australian Cassowary from Queensland.
By Mr. C. French, jun. — Clutch of eggs of Tasmanian Swamp
Quail, Tasmania. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. — Phreatoicojisis
Australis, in illustration of Mr. Hill's paper. By Mr. G. A. Keart-
land.— Eggs of Black Falcon, Short-winged Podargus, Spotted
Nightjar, Owlet Nightjar, White-breasted Swallow, Red-backed
Kingfisher, Black-faced Wood Swallow, and Red-lored Pardalote,
in illustration of paper. By Mr. Mattingley. — Eggs of Crocodile
C. sporosus, from Mungalla, Herbert River, Queensland. By Mr.
G. E. Shepherd. — Eggs of Yellow-necked Bittern and Noisy
Pitta from New South Wales, and Black-capped Sittella from
Kewell, Victoria.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

151

NOTES ON THE NARROW-BILLED BRONZE CUCKOO.
By A. J. Campbell.

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \3th December, 1897.)

The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, Chalcites basalis, Horsf., is
found throughout Australia, including Tasmania.

The arrival of this bird in southern parts is concurrent with the
tide of the other cuckoos, its laying season commencing about
the end of September and continuing into December. There is
a noteworthy fact in connection with the two common Bronze
Cuckoos frequenting the southern parts of Australia. The one
that lays the olive or bronze-coloured egg invariably, or with few
exceptions, deposits its burden in dome-shaped or covered nests,
while the Narrow-billed (the species now under notice) chooses
either dome-shaped or open cup-shaped nests as receptacles for
its red-speckled egg.

As far as my data go, the following species are among the
foster birds of the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo : —

Vernacular Name.

White-shafled Funtail ...
Blue Wren
Long-tailed Wren
Orange-backed Wren ...
Black-backed ,,
White- winged ,,
Yellow-rumped Tit
Buff-rumped ,,
Tasmanian ,,

Striated ,,

Little Yellow ,,
Little brown ,,
Scarlet-breasted Robin ...
Red-capped ,,

W 1 1 ite-fronted Scrub-Tit
Yellow-throated ,,
Large billed ,,

Shorl -billed Tree-Tit
Rufous-headed Grass-

Warbler

White- fronted Bush-Chat
Field Lark

Scientific Name.

Rhipidura albiscapa

Malurus cyaneus ...

M. gouldi

M. melanocephalus

M. melanotus

M. leucopterus

Geobasileus chrysorrhoea

G. reguloides

Acanthiza diemenensis ...

A. lineata ...

A. nana

A. pusilla ...

Petroeca leggii

P. goodenovii

Sericornis frontalis

S. citreogularis

S. magnirostris ...

Smicrornis brevirostris ...

( 'isticula ruficeps ...
Ephthianura albifrons
Calamanthus campestris (?)

New Holland Honey-eater Meliornis novce-hollandia:

White-cheeked ., .. M. sericea

White-eye ... ... Zosterops coerulescens

Red-browed Finch ... /Egintha temporalis

Orange-winged Sitella ... S. chrysoptera

By Whom First

Recorded or

Reported.

G. E. Shepherd
E. P. Ramsay

H. Barnard
A. J. North
A. J. C.

E. P. Ramsay

A. J. North
E. P. Ramsay

A. J. North

A. J. C.

A.J. C.( Kent Group)

Hermann Lau

A. J. North

G. A. Keartland

J. T. Gillespie

C. French, jun., and

party
A. J. North
E. I'. Ramsay
A. J. North
E. Cornwall
G. E. .Shepherd

152 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

It is unusual to find two species of cuckoo in the same foster
bird's nest. Once I found a nest of the Tit, Geobasileus chry-
sorrhosa, containing three eggs, besides an egg each of the two
Bronze Cuckoos. If these two lively youngsters had been
hatched, I suppose it would have been a case of " the survival
of the fittest." However, Dr. Ramsay can go one better. In
1856, from a nest of the Little Tit, Acanthiza nana, he took no
less than six eggs — three belonging to the Tit and three to the
Bronze Cuckoos — two of C. plagosus and one of G. basalis.

As we saw in our observations on the Fantailed Cuckoo, Mr.
A. S. Brent can go one higher still as far as cuckoos' eggs are
concerned, for in a little Tasmanian Tit's (Acanthiza) nest, he
took the eggs of no less than three species — namely, the Fan-
tailed, Bronze, and Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoos.

Exceptions always seem to prove the rule. Cuckoos, being
insectivorous, usually deposit their eggs in the nest of a bird used
to similar diet. But here we have a partly graminivorous bird a
would-be foster parent. Mr. Ed. Cornwall related to me
how he once found a Finch's nest containing the fresh egg
of the Narrow-billed Cuckoo. But the strange part of the affair
was that the nest also contained the body of the finch, which
apparently had been dead some weeks.

To the Messrs. Brittlebank I am indebted for first-hand in-
formation relating to many of the foster parents of various
cuckoos. I was present with them at one of our enjoyable
outings at the Werribee Gorge, nth October, 1890, when we
found the egg of a Narrow-billed Cuckoo in the nest of the New
Holland Honey-eater.

During the visit of the expedition of the Field Naturalists' Club
of Victoria, November, 1890, to the Kent Group, we discovered for
the first time the egg of the Narrow-billed Cuckoo in the nest of
the White-fronted Scrub-Tit, Sericornis frontalis *

As in the case of the other Bronze Cuckoo, two eggs of the
Narrow-billed are occasionally taken in one nest. Here is a
curious note from Mr. G. E. Shepherd. At Somerville, 1896,
twice he took a Blue Wren's nest containing a clutch of two
eggs, together with a Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo's egg, and on
examination a second cuckoo's egg was found embedded in the
grassy material of the nest.

That cuckoos sometimes deposit their eggs in the foster-bird's
nest before its construction is complete is again illustrated by the
fact that after removing a pretty clutch of eggs from a Blue
Wren's nest I discovered between the grassy folds of the nest
the well-known red-sprinkled egg of the Narrow-billed Bronze
Cuckoo.

* 6". gularis, Legge, Victorian Naturalist, 1896.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

153

Bearing on this point, I possess further evidence from Mr.
Win. P. Best, Branxholme, who wrote some time ago : — " I am
of opinion that occasionally the Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo
deposits its egg in the Acanthiza's nest before that bird has laid
its eggs, and that when this happens the Acanthiza covers the
strange egg with a thick layer of feathers. I have found several
cuckoos' eggs thus covered with a dense layer of feathers in every
instance ; the lining of the nest has been much in excess of what
is usually found. It also seems to me that the cuckoo's egg
hatches in somewhat less time than the other eggs in the nest.
I have been unable to verify this, however. What I have noticed
is that in nests where a cuckoo's egg is found that egg is always
in a more forward state of incubation than the others, and where
I have found a young Cuckoo there have (or nearly) always been
eggs broken (not young birds) under the nest."

It will be observed that the eggs of the two little Bronze
Cuckoos, G. plagosus and C. basalis, are totally dissimilar in
colouring, notwithstanding that the respective reputed parents are
almost exactly alike, both in colour and size. Both wear coats of
glorious golden-green. However, the Narrow-billed may be dis-
tinguished, as its name implies, by its slightly smaller and
narrower bill, more mottled plumage on the throat and chest —
not so barred as in the other variety — and by several (6) of the
tail feathers being rufous or chestnut-coloured at their base.
The young of both species on leaving the nest are hardly to be
separated from each other, but at about three months old they
possess the same characteristic markings as their parents. It
would be of great interest if some of our oologists could explain
the apparent anomaly in the colouration of the eggs, for ex-
perience teaches us that in nearly every genus the true typical
egg of each species is not without characteristic resemblance.

With reference to the supposed ousting by the young cuckoo
of its foster brethren, I do not think it applies in all cases, if at
all, because if we consider, say, the Pallid and Fantailed Cuckoos,
their rapid growth in size, compared with the smaller foster
family, the latter would be soon crushed or starved out of
existence; moreover, the nest could not contain them all. In any
case there appears an all-wise provision in the plans of their
Creator for the maintenance of their (the cuckoo) species, for it
may be readily understood that it occupies the whole time of a
pair of tiny foster parents to satiate the rapacious maw of their
large foster chick, without being encumbered with a brood of
their own offspring.

154 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

NOTES ON THE BIRD FAUNA OF THE BOX HILL
DISTRICT — Continued.

By Robert Hall.

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 11 th January, 1898.)

There are always two larks within our cleared lands — the one
common throughout the year, the other nomadic ; at all events.
it is away singing elsewhere a part of its time. The first I refer
to is the Pipit, or Ground Lark, the other the Bush Lark.
I fancy I have recognized a Cincloramphus in the direction of
Spring Vale, but, not having secured its skin, leave it out for the
present.

Our Ground Lark, or Meadow Pipit, Anthus Australia, V. & H.
(W.)*, scarcely needs a mention, as it has spoken for itself, I
may safely venture to say, to each one of you. The larks appear
to differ from the pipits in the bills of the latter being more
slender, and notched, so that our familiar Ground Lark should
always be honoured with its more appropriate title of Pipit. The
nest is invariably placed upon the ground, and the birds prefer
the same place to the air. For five minutes together you may
keep the slim-footed runner moving in and out, seldom essaying
flight for more than a few seconds, until, finding you are intent
upon annoying it, away it flaps with the wind for ioo yards or
more. If it wishes to enter an adjacent field, and pass houses en
route, it will rise quickly into the air, fly high, and fall rapidly
into the new pasture, favoured with the wind if present. If a
quarrel arises between the smallest number that can make a
quarrel, a long, rapid, and zig-zag flight follows, little in accord
with the usual short, unventuresome flutter.

The golden rule of the Pipit is to escape from danger by rapid,
even running along the ground, not divulging its presence by
any motion of flight. When trouble has subsided, and without
any loss of time, an attack is made upon the nearest insect that
is weighty enough to be of valuable consideration.

The congregations of this bird, in the season when most birds
agree to associate in flocks, is seldom more than ten to twelve in
a flock upon the ground. Beyond this period the pairs, by them-
selves or with their young, are seen by daylight almost in any
green or brown field, or heard at nightfall when other birds are
making straight for home by all the rural short-cuts known to
them. A direct flight of, say, 25 yards, will occupy about five
seconds, while a run in a straight line of 15 yards will take about
the same time. Wherever a dry channel offers itself the bird
will use it for escape by running ; and in this way I noticed, some
time ago, a young White-fronted Ephthianura trying to evade
observation and make its escape. By way of comparison, both

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 15f>

feign well an injury or youthful weakness to distract your atten-
tion from the nest of eggs or young that these parent birds have
been forced to leave owing to your presence. I fear their decoy
hopes are not as advantageous to them as "silence is golden"
would be, for the nest would seldom be found were it not for
their own aid in rising from the nest and plainly saying by their
action, " There it is." All you have now to do is to look for it
within the limited bounds prescribed for you.

The young are early models of the old. Before leaving the
saucer-shaped nest of grass material the outer two rectrices are
white, each with a central longitudinal dark line, and this before
these feathers are an inch in length. The little birds early learn
to catch the worms, which appear after a heavy rainfall in such
plenty that juvenile Pipits soon find themselves doing well in
business..

The Bush Larks, of which the more familiar is Horsfield's,
belong to the family Alandidse (a great songstress), which is
most strongly represented in America, the land of singing birds,
with the champion of all — the mocking bird.

The only specimen obtained by myself corresponds witli Dr.
Sharpe's description for Mirafra secimda. This bird somewhat
resembles the Pipit, but as it has a rather coniferous bill, and is
of shorter dimensions than the Pipit, the difference is always
observable in any season of plumage, and even in the field with a
close view, which is about the only one you can get of the bird
when upon the ground, as it so closely assimilates with it. The
song of the bird is comparable with recognized singers of quality,
and with the Black Fantail, Sauloprocta motacilloides, V. & H.,
it sings at night, but with a greater variety of music than that of
the Fantail. On or about the longest day of the year, when the
setting of the sun and the rising of the moon are comparatively
close together, about nine o'clock in the evening many birds
seem to have lost their reckoning, for they whistle and sing,
warble and call quite apart from their ordinary course of nightly
movements.

Placing the classification of Australian birds by Dr. Ramsay
alongside that of Dr. Sharpe, I find the former shows one species
of this genus while the latter recognizes two, with the following
key for the latest edition (M. secimda) : — Eyebrow tawny-buff,
shoulder of wing almost entirely rufous, the median and greater
coverts showing scarcely any black bases to the feathers. It is
with this description that the local one agrees, rather than with
M. Horsjieldi, Gould.

Other than the two mentioned familiar ground birds is a third
species. The Striated Field Lark, Calamanthus fuliginosus, V.
and H. (VV)., here is an uncommon bird, preferring the marshy
low growth of the sea border to the rough grassy flats of the

156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

interior, but at home in both. Between Grantville and the
southern part of Lang Lang it is plentiful, and nearer Melbourne,
between Yarraville and Altona, you may at almost any time
obtain a variety of skins if they are needed for scientific purposes.
The bird, from a little bush top, sings sweetly, merrily, and con-
tinuously, with its brownish tail erect and restless. The tail
appears by its movements to be an extraordinary appendage to
the bird, for besides other actions you learn its intended course
of flight by the placement of the tail in the opposite direction to
that course which it intends to pursue. Certainly one action is
quickly consequent upon the other, but unlike the Superb
Warbler in its manner of set-off, that of lowering its long tail to
the plane of its body on the first flight motion.

Another species, as nearly terrestrial as is possible, is the
White-fronted Ephthianura, Ephthianura albi/rons, J. and S.
(W.), associating in flocks in southern Victoria between February
and July upon the high grass and low bushes of open country,
uttering its " tang," and becoming as pugnacious as many other
birds before the end of July. This is one of four very beautiful
and conspicuous species of a genus peculiar to Australia, all of
which build their nests at the base of herbs or grasses, or some iS
inches from the ground amongst bushes. The birds are early
builders, make a cup-shaped nest, deposit three eggs (one each
successive day), and induce the young to leave the nest on the
twelfth day from hatching out. The young are not born the
same day, but with 24 hours' difference in time. If an egg does
not develop it lies in the nest for weeks, perhaps until decay
sets in, and long after the nest is unused by the owners. Both
sexes take part in incubation and in the rearing of the young, the
male taking as keen an interest in being a canopy for the new-
born as the mother bird. Here is another foster-parent for the
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo. In December of last year I
found an egg of the wanderer unsuccessfully foisted upon a pair
of Ephthianuras, for it had either been placed or ejected on the
wide edge of the nest, and there it lay uncared for.

For three successive seasons two pairs of this species built
their nests at the bases of two tussocks of grass. I believe them
to be the same birds throughout the time, for there were thou-
sands of other tussocks in the vicinity that could have been
utilized for the same purpose, without any special effort on the
part of the birds — at least, so far as my knowledge of such matters
led me to conclude.

Of the universally dispersed Fringillidse, including 559 species,
the most southern members are the well-known Red-eyebrowed
Finch, or Waxbill, and the Spotted-sided Finch, or Diamond
Sparrow. However, in a recent classification of finches by
Mr. Oates, it is mentioned by Mr. Lydekker, B.A. ("Royal

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 157

Natural History "), that Australia, strangely, is without finches.
Thus our twenty-two species are elsewhere placed in this
case, but retained under other systems of classification.

In early spring the migration of the Red-eyebrowed
Finch, Estrilda temporalis, Lath., south into this district
is noted by seeing small flocks of fifteen or twenty birds
flocking into the creek bushes, their gentle chirps conveying
their thanks for warm weather and sunshine upon the
fields familiar to most of them. They do not begin house-
building at once, for it is in October and November that
I have observed their bulky nests placed a dozen feet from the
ground in high shrubs. This little bird, 4 inches long, delights
in building a nest 9 inches high by 12 inches broad, of coarse grass,
and more like that of a sparrow, also a finch. Into this con-
spicuous nest it places five to eight small white eggs, and
carefully tends the rising generation, which differ from their
parents in not having the crimson bill and patch over eye. The
upper tail coverts are similar to the old birds' before leaving the
nest. This little hard-billed bird cleanses itself by bathing in
pools, and, with the necessary care, upon a tree-trop or a lateral
branch, preens its feathers to its satisfaction. Below the
Dargo plateau of North Gippsland I remember seeing, as late as
2nd February, 1895, more than a dozen nests, all built in dead
bushes some 10 ft. from the ground. This was the last note of
the season, and flocks, in timber born, were everywhere hurrying
along the creeks.

The Spotted-sided Finch, E. guttata, Shaw, inhabits the
larger timber, feeds upon the ground preferably, and builds a
loosely constructed nest in the high branches of a eucalyptus.
In matured plumage the effect of the blotch of red, while quickly
passing under a grove of wattles, is a striking one. Certainly I
thought a tropical stranger had come amongst us when I saw it
for the first time on the wing.

Of true Babbling Thrushes we have four of twenty-three Aus-
tralian species, and a strange group they will seem to form to those
who know the Calamanthus and Cincloramphus, as the latter
is also placed here. Among them are the Scrub Robins (Pycnop-
tilus), Coach-whip Bird, Striated Field Lark (Calamanthus), and
the Spotted Ground-Thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum, Lath. (W.)
This last bird associates in small flocks or in pairs upon the ground
in the vicinity of gravel beds where present, and when it rises for
flight the course is an undulatory one. In April little flocks are
seen ; some fifteen to twenty birds assemble. It is much more
difficult to secure than a quail. If a species of quail rises it does
so near you, and the experienced gunner kills the bird ; but the
thrush, which flies also quickly, with a burr, rises so far ahead
that a shot, fired otherwise than at random, serves only the pur-

158 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

pose of frightening other birds and disturbing the general peace.
The nest is placed upon the ground, and the complement of
eggs is two. In November I have found them, with the assistance
of the sitting bird, for it will leave the nest as you are approach-
ing with the feign of broken wing, as adopted by other ground
birds, including the European Lapwing.

The Mountain Thrush, Geocichla lunulata, Lath. (W.), is a bird
of similar habitat, with a preference for moist land, such as low on
creek banks. It is well distributed, and the most familiar of the
three species known in this continent. The nest is a bulky one,
placed off the ground, and the eggs are laid as early as July, in
company with the Lyre Bird of moister districts.

Amongst the southern spring and summer residents is the Aus-
tralian Oriole, Mimeta viridis, Lath. I have noted its arrival in
August, and a call peculiar to it, but similar to the Black-faced
Graucalus, is henceforth heard, with a reduction in autumn and a
departure by winter. The bird also has two harsh, powerful
notes, made quickly in succession. The Oriole pitches its voice
at a higher key to start with than the Graucalus, which com-
mences with a squeak, then continues in a similar manner to the
voice of the Oriole. One call of the young is like that of the
"Rosella." There is a divergence between the Orioles of the
mainland and those of the Malay Archipelago, as noted by Mr.
Wallace, and interesting as a case of protection. The two species
of the islands unconsciously mimic the Leatherheads (Philemon),
and thus lead birds of prey to believe they have to deal with
the pugnacious Leatherhead instead of the sombre and harmless
bird under notice.

At a certain time of the year each district is generally visited
by the Australian Raven, Corone Australis, Gould (W.), a bird
different to the White-eyed Crow in so far as it has hazel
eyes and darker tips to feathers. In January (after breeding) it
may be seen flying high looking for the spots most favourable to
the nourishing of its body. Such places as where offal from
slaughter-houses is being placed in orchards are particularly
favoured. Its palate may be sensitive, but I would not think
the digestive organs were. It is certain some ferment works
rapidly, for if you carry a bird just shot under these conditions
for a mile, the disposition to carry it any further is lost, and the
bird is dropped for the ants and flies.

In the Swan Hill district I have noticed great flocks of
this species and the White-eyed Crow catching worms on the
edges of swamps as the waters subside. Ravens are classified
amongst singing birds, as previously mentioned. Structurally this
is correct, but where do we hear the music, beyond the con-
tinuous din of its caw, caw ? I have seen one without its
black pigment, so that we have a white specimen of a Raven,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 159

which it is almost impossible for anyone to define, as there is
enough difficulty when in the normal state.

It is not improbable that the Crow comes here in some portion
of the year, but I have not yet seen it. Professor Newton has
remarked that with the exception of New Zealand and South
America, the crow is mostly omnipresent.

In a sub-family of Corvidse is placed the White-winged
Chough, Corcorax melanor ham pirns, Vieill., generally known as
the jay. The true jays (Garrulus) are distributed in the northern
hemisphere. The Chough is not a regular tenant of our woods,
but I have always noticed it when in the hilly country beyond
Bayswater. The mud nest, in composition similar to the
Magpie Lark's (Grallina), but of larger proportions, will weigh
from eight to twelve pounds, exclusive of the eucalypt branch
to which it is appended. This only Australian species mostly
frequents the timbered lands of low altitude, while the nearest
allied form lives in mountain country.

In the adjacent hills I have observed a nest at approximately
1,000 feet above sea level.

Our next species is the little Swallow Dicreum, Dicceum
hirundinaceum, Shaw, now known as Flower-pecker, through
the consideration given it by Colonel Legge and Mr.
Campbell. In India the bird is recognized as Flower-pecker,
and as Australia has but a single species a southern " follow-on"
is adopted. Dr. Sharpe has consigned both the Pardalotes and
this to live upon good terms in the family Dicseidae. Its attach-
ment is to the mistletoes, seeking them in trees that bear the
parasites, and passing other vegetation for them. In gullies and
gorges to the north-west of Melbourne (such as at Myrniong),
the birds will build their purse-like nests, and remaining
undisturbed will rear a comely brood. The notes of the bird
are fairly strong, with a lisp, and sound like " seek-er, seek-er,
seek-er," repeated. The eggs bear interest in their uniform
white and most uninteresting appearance, as being the product
of a beautiful bird using a dark-cavity nest.

Of Tree-Creepers and Tree-Runners we have three species :
Climacteris leucophcea, Lath. (W.), White-throated Tree-Creeper,
much better known here than C. scandnns, the brown species ;
and Siltella chrysoptera, Lath. (W.), Orange-winged Tree-Runner.
The Sittellae go in small flocks of about eight, fly heavily when
pressed for time, and appear more like solid bodies in flight than
light bird forms. Of two specimens shot 25th July, 1896, in a
clump of timber, the male had a yellow band at the base of
upper mandible ; this I take to be a sign of immaturity, as the
sexes, according to Mr. Gould, are alike in this respect in the
adult stage. When the male had lost its mate it flew round for
some considerable time, calling " twit, twit," and remained rest-

1G0 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

less while looking for insects upon the tree stems to which it
resorts.

During a summer day of the past year, while accompaning
friends along a portion of the Werribee River, Victoria, we took
part in a play in which the principal act was performed by
members of the Tree-Runner genus. Our first interest was in a
grub that lay quiet in the Sittella's mouth, as we were inquisitive
enough to know whether the old bird had any objection to our
looking on at the anticipated feeding of the young. We were not
kept waiting long for the information, but we were for the results.
Ten minutes or more that bird continued to fly from bough to
bough, and finally decided to creep down the main stem to a
crevice in the bark in which was carefully hidden a young and
fully fledged bird, temporarily secreted. It was fed, and one of us
took hold of it ; what followed in part may be easily anticipated.
There was an uproar by the young bird, followed by three old
birds, and all became as tame as are the Fantails. The graceful
flying and nearness of their repeated approaches astonished us,
showing an inclination to rest upon our hands, just with that in-
stinctive feeling that tells one exactly when to retire for safety
sake. These delicate advances on the part of three adult birds
instead of two were followed by three more of the same species
joining the group, but keeping at a distance. These latter were
young birds. The adult Sittellas rested in the air with a full ex-
pansion of the golden-colored wings, as if for the time from their
wild habits tamed, and for moments perched within a few inches
of the hand that held the young. The whole scene now was one
of blended animation — timber and birds — with the flying forms
passing between and over the four members who constituted our
party. The birds soon sought the higher branches, and we faced
the ascent of a steep and rugged hill.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTE.

The Extension of Localities of the Large-billed
Scrub-Wren (Sericornis magnirostris).
Hitherto this modest-coloured bird has only been recorded
for the eastern coastal region, from Rockingham Bay in the
north to the district of Sydney in the south, where it is considered
rare. During a collecting trip undertaken for some Melbourne
naturalists, Mr. Harry Barnard found the Large-billed Scrub- Wren
at Cape York, Queensland, season 1896-7, while Mr. A. C.
Smart has kindly lent me, for examination, a skin of this species
which he shot from a small family at Loch, South Gippsland,
Victoria.

No doubt these two localities are the respective limits, north
and south, of the geographical distribution of the species.

14th February, 1898. A. J. Campbell.

THE

tyictovian |l a t u r a I i 0 1 .

Vol. XIY.— No. 12. APRIL 14, 1898. No. 172.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th March, 1898.
The president, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., occupied the chair, and
about 50 members and visitors were present.

REPORT.

A report of the excursion to Willsmere, on Saturday, 26th
February, was read by the leader, Mr. W. Stickland, who stated
that, despite the heat, seven members attended, and many in-
teresting specimens of pond life were obtained.

librarian's report.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following donations
to the library : — " Proceedings Linnean Society of New South
Wales," part 3, 1897, from the Society; "Transactions of Royal
Society of South Australia," vol. xx., part 2, from the Society;
" Census of Plants of Geelong District," by G. H. Adcock, F.L.S.,
from the author ; The Wombat, January, 1898, from the Geelong
Science Society; "Report of Smithsonian Institute," July, 1894,
from the Institute ; " Bulletin of American Museum of Natural
History," vol. viii., from the Museum ; " Proceedings of Nova
Scotian Institute of Science," vol. ix., part 2, from the Institute :
" Proceedings of Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia,"
1896, part 3, from the Academy ; " Proceedings of Boston Society
of Natural History," vol. xxvii., 12 parts, from the Society;
" Chicago Academy of Science Annual Report," also " Bulletin
No. 1," from the Academy ; also 6 parts publications by Field
Columbian Museum, Chicago, from the Museum ; and " Nature
Notes," for January and February, 1898, from the Selborne
Society, London.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken Messrs. Arnold E. Rodda and John
Boyes were unanimously elected members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The hon. secretary reported that the deputation appointed to
interview Sir Edward Braddon, Premier of Tasmania, with refer-
ence to the protection under the law of that colony of the
Albatrosses on Albatross Island, had been favourably received by
him, and, at his request, had afterwards submitted their views to
him in writing.

162 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

PAPERS.

i. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled "What's in a Name?"

The author briefly stated the present system of zoological
nomenclature, and offered some remarks on the question of
priority, and pointed out the trouble caused to workers by the
publication of manuscript names.

In the discussion which followed Mr. J. G. Luehmann gave
some account of botanical nomenclature, and Mr. J. Shepherd
congratulated the author on the practical manner in which the
question had been brought before the meeting.

2. By Mr. J. F. H. Haase, entitled " Life- History of the
Butterfly, Xenica achanla, Don."

The author, having succeeded in rearing the perfect insect from
the egg, was able to place on record, for the first time, descriptions
of the larvae and their habits, with particulars as to the duration
of the different stages.

Mr. J. Kershaw and others complimented the author on his
careful observation, and trusted that the paper would be the
precursor of other life-histories.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. A. Coles. — African Kingfisher, with bill measuring four
inches in length. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S., on behalf of the
Entomological Branch of the Department of Agriculture, 132
species of Australian Coccidae or scale insects, 32 species of
which have been only recently described ; also, Ceratitis Tryoni
and Halterophora capitata, both being amongst the worst enemies
of the fruit-grower, the latter species of fly having been reared
from peaches introduced into Victoria from New South Wales.
By Mr. C. French, jun. — Longicorn beetles, Uracanthus trian-
gularis, very destructive to the black wattles in the -vicinity of
Melbourne ; also eggs of the following birds : — Spalding's
Orthonyx, Queensland ; Red-kneed Dottrel, Riverina, N.S.W. ;
Ground Graucalus, Emu Plains, N.S.W. By Mr. R. Hall.—
A living fern, Asplenium, sp., from Kerguelen Island. By Mr.
G. A. Keartland. — Skins of Many-coloured Parrakeet, Red-winged
Lory, Oriental Pratincole, Pheasant Coucal, Banded Myzomela,
Black-cheeked Falcon, Uniform-coloured Honey-eater, Red-
backed Warbler, Red-throated Honey-eater, Yellow Honey-eater,
Keartland's Honey-eater, Black-tailed Tree Creeper, Red-tailed
Finch, Phaeton Finch, Painted Finch, and Sulphur-crested Cock-
atoo, all from North-west Australia. By Mr. F. M. Reader. —
Dried specimens of Cynoglossum Atistrale, Crantzia lineata,
Schoenus nitens, Loysia pungens, and Styphelia rufa, from Wim-
mera, all new for north-west Victoria. By Mr. A. E. Rodda. —
Eggs of Pectoral Rail. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Eggs of Blood-
stained Cockatoo, Australian Dottrel, and White-fronted Falcon.
After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 163

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FLORA OF VICTORIA.

No. IV.

By F. M. Reader, F.R.H.S. Communicated by C. Frost, F.L.S.

(Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 11th January, 1898.)

Prasophyllum fusco-viride, sp. nov., F. M. Reader.

An orchid belonging to the section Genoplesium of the genus
Prasophyllum. Tuber almost kidney-shaped. Stem from 5 inches
to about a foot high ; leafless at the time of flowering, excepting
a rudimentary leaf of 3 to 5 lines, situated near the inflorescence.
Flowers in a spike or raceme of y2 to i*4 inches ; very small and
hardly opening. Sepals green below, towards the apex blackish
brown or brown. Lateral sepals gibbous and united below,
lanceolate, about x/% of an inch long. Dorsal sepal fa of an inch
long, concave, broadly ovate, acute. Paired petals purplish,
linear, shorter than the lateral sepals, f§ of aline long. Labellum
dark purplish, articulated at the end of the claw-like basal pro-
jection of the column, ovate-oblong, shortly recurved at the pale
end. Inner plate with two ridges, occupying the greater part of
the lamina, darker than the transparent margins and vanishing
towards the apex. Lateral appendages of the column slightly
longer than the gynostemium, dark purple, acutely bifid at the
end. Rostellum from a rough callous darker base ending in a
broad transparent expansion. Anther pale and apiculate, longer
than the rostellum. Pollinia sulphur-yellow. Fruit shortly
oblong, oblique.

Flowers April to August. Mallee fringe, Lowan, Dimboola
shire ; Miss Felice Reader, 1892 (rare). Mr. C. Walter found
this species farther north shortly after the plant was discovered
near Dimboola.

This orchid approaches Fitzgerald's P. viride, but the yellow
triangular labellum and green flowers of the latter readily dis-
tinguish it from that species. From P. ansatum it differs in the
lateral sepals being gibbous at the base, the petals being without
a gland, and the labellum being broader and articulate, &c. In
P. nigricans the flowers are larger and darker and the lateral
sepals are tipped with a gland, &c. P. transversum is devoid of
the claw and furnished with a short ovate-acuminate labellum.
In P. laminalum the flowers are reddish, the sepals non-gibbous
at the base, and the labellum is trapezoid. From P. rufum this
new species differs in the colour of the flowers, in the sepals being
gibbous at the base, and in the broader labellum. P. densum,
inlricatitm, reflexum, eriochilum, Woollsii, and fimbriaticm are all
characteristic of the ciliate (more or less) labellum. P. fusco-
viride differs from P. densum also in the colour of the flowers,
the broader labellum, and in the sepals, petals, and labellum being

164 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

without glands. In -P. intricatum the flowers are red-brown, the
sepals all equal in length, and the lateral ones tipped with a
gland. In P. reflexum the flowers are also red brown, and the
lateral sepals united for half their length. P. eriochilum is
furnished with a hairy surface of the labellum. In P. Woollsii the
sepals are red-brown. From P. fimbriatum this new orchid
differs in the labellum being non-ciliate, in the absence of the
fringe of hairs, and the colour of the flowers, and from P.
Dixoni it is distinguished by the darker flowers, by the broader
dorsal sepal, the narrower paired petals, and the shape of the
labellum.

NOTES ON THE TERRESTRIAL ISOPOD, PHREATOI-
COPSIS TERRICOLA, Spencer and Hall.

By W. H. F. Hill.

(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14th February, 1898. )

When the description of this crustacean by Professor W. Baldwin
Spencer and Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., appeared in the "Transactions
of the Royal Society of Victoria," vol. ix. (new series), none but
spirit specimens were available to work upon, so I thought that
some short account of such characters as were observable only
in the field, although of minor importance when compared with
the systematic description, would nevertheless be of some
interest. As such the following notes are brought forward : —

Colour. — Frontal portion of head, yellow. Body, faint bluish
white and translucent, usually darkened by earthy material in the
digestive organs. Legs and other appendages white and semi-
translucent. Posterior dorsal edges of some segments about
the middle and towards die end of the body usually yellow.
This character is very variable, and occurs in adult specimens
most markedly, but is often visible in the young. The
integument is colourless and almost transparent. The yellow
colouration before mentioned fades out of spirit specimens, which
become opaque, and vary from creamy white to grey, according
to the amount of earth in the body.

Habits. — The animals live in permanent ramifying burrows
from a few inches to more than a foot in depth, which they
widen out, particularly in contact with buried boulders, logs, and
stumps, into small irregular chambers. These frequently hold
water and mud, in which the animals lie. They make no effort
to swim when placed in a basin of water.

Casts, somewhat similar to those of earthworms, are scattered
through the burrows and chambers. I doubt whether there is,
as a ride, permanent communication with the surface ; at any

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 165

rate there is no well-defined entrance, with heaped up casts, as
found at the burrows of Engarns, sp.

I traced one burrow upwards to the surface, where it opened
out under some vegetable debris, leaving unsettled the question
of the removal of the excavated material. In burrowing, the
earth is loosened by the strong spine-shaped terminal joint
of the first limb.

The following diary entries, referring to specimens found,
appear to show that, after living in the burrow of the parents for
some time, the young start off on their own account, and spread
out over a considerable area : —

" 22nd August. — One adult and nine young about half-inch
long in one chamber, under a large stone ; two smaller sized
adults in communicating burrow.

" 29th August. — Two large adults and four young about three-
quarter-inch long, in a terminal chamber containing mud.

" 31st October. — One adult and nineteen young from three-
tenths to four-tenths of an inch long in a double chamber, under
a large stone.

"31st October. — Ten half-grown specimens from an area
of several square yards, within six inches from the surface."

The largest specimens were taken from deep burrows, and
usually singly.

Their movements are not graceful, at any rate when alarmed.
The alternate flexion and extension of the body necessary when
using the uropoda as a means of propulsion increase the
tendency which the animals have to roll over sideways, and
although this may make but little difference when supported by
the sides of the burrows, it is an impediment to easy and rapid
movement when out in the open air.

This lateral instability is in part compensated for by the ease
with which they can right themselves, using chiefly the fourth
and fifth legs, the articulation of which favours their use for this
purpose.

If picked up they either coil up or else, by rapidly bending
and straightening themselves, strive to escape, often producing a
distinct creaking stridulation, apparently connected with the
motion of the pleon.

Locality. — Specimens were found commonly through the
parishes of Olangolah, Barramunga, and Weeaproinah, in the
county of Polwarth, from the northern edge of the Beech Forest
through to Gardiner's. As this includes a considerable area
of typical Beech Forest country, the animal has no doubt a
much wider range than the three parishes mentioned. I have
been told that specimens have been found so far north as
the junction of the Gellibrand and Love's rivers.

166 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM CENTRAL
AUSTRALIA.

Part II.

By G. A. Keartland.

(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14£/j February, 1898.)

Early in 1896 I intimated to the committee of this Club my
intention of reading a series of notes on the bird-life of Central
Australia. In doing so I hoped to be able to convey a certain
amount of information concerning the feathered denizens of
tropical Australia, and at the same time to describe any pecu-
liarities observed amongst those birds to which most of our
members are strangers. This intention was delayed owing to the
fact that before the first paper appeared in the Naturalist (vol.
xiii., p. 58) I was called away on the Calvert Exploring Ex-
pedition across the Great Desert of Western Australia, of which I
may have something to say in the future. In order to make my
notes as complete as possible, I purposed taking the whole of the
birds noted in their ornithological sequence. Therefore my first
paper dealt with the raptores, but, as I omitted one, I shall begin
with it now.

Black Falcon, Falco subniger, Gray. — Whilst near the Peter-
mann Range, and again at Owen Springs, I had opportunities of
seeing these birds frequently. Although reputed to be very
courageous in the pursuit of their prey, they carefully avoid the
approach of man, and my native companion gave me to under-
stand that it was only waste of time to follow them along the
rocky hills at the places named. I wished afterwards that I had
taken his advice, as the birds appeared to know the killing
powers of my gun to a nicety, and carefully kept at a respectful
distance. Since then, however, Mr. Jas. Field has succeeded in
sending me a beautiful clutch of two of their eggs. They are
oval in form, the fleshy-white ground colour being almost ob-
scured by fine freckles and dark red spots and blotches. The
nest bears a strong resemblance to that of the Brown Hawk,
Hieracidea berigora, and is built of small sticks in the forked
branch of the eucalypt.

Short-winged Podargus, Podargus brachypterus, Gould. —
These birds are fairly numerous in the West M'Donnell Ranges,
where they easily procure an ample supply of food amongst the
nocturnal lepidoptera which frequent the gorges in the ranges.
The birds closely resemble P. strigoides in colour and markings,
but are about one-third less in size. Their habits are also similar,
and when reposing on the stout limb of their favourite tree with
outstretched head they are easily mistaken at a short distance for the
stump of a branch. Messrs. Field and Cowle have each sent me
a sample of their eggs, which are perfectly white, oval in shape

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 167

and somewhat glossy. Their nests are usually placed on a stout
branch, and consist of a few fine twigs formed into a circle to
prevent the eggs rolling off.

Spotted Nightjar, Eurostopodus guttatus, Vig. and Hors. —
Whilst in the spinifex country or near rocks these birds
frequently visited our camp at night, being attracted by the
numerous insects which were flying towards the fire. Whilst in
pursuit of their prey they frequently alight on the ground, but so
far as I am aware never perch on a tree. Their soft feathers are
much appreciated by other birds for nest lining, and it is surpris-
ing how many are used by the Maluri and Acanthizae for that
purpose. The Spotted Nightjar passes the day in rocky or stony
country, and always on the ground. Messrs. Cowle and Field
have forwarded samples of their eggs, which are a pale yellowish
green with a few blackish-brown spots sparingly scattered over
the whole of the shell. The bird makes no nest, but deposits its
single egg on the bare ground.

Owlet Nightjar, .Egotheles Novce-Hollandice, Vig. and Hors. —
The question has been asked, How many species of this genus
exist in Australia ? and whether sEgotheles leucogaster is entitled
to be considered a separate species. I think not, and for the
following reasons : — It is now over thirty years since I obtained
my first specimen within five miles of Melbourne, and since then
many skins have passed through my hands, from a careful ex-
amination of which I have arrived at the above conclusion. A
specimen shot at Oakleigh by Mr. W. P. Henderson was a
beautiful steel-grey, with a perfectly white breast. Another
killed at Heidelberg was inclined to brown on the upper parts,
and the white had almost disappeared from the breast. Those ob-
tained on the Horn Scientific Expedition in Central Australia were
almost rufous brown above, and pale brown or dirty white beneath.
Sex does not appear to have any influence on colour with these
birds. The Owlet Nightjar is certainly one of the most useful of
our nocturnal birds, and if they were as numerous as they are
widely dispersed, it would be greatly to the advantage of our
fruit-growers. Some time ago my attention was called to a pair
of these birds which had been noticed for several nights darting
and fluttering amongst the pear and apple trees in an orchard in
one of our suburbs. An examination of the trees revealed the
presence of Codlin Moths. As the food of the Nightjar consists of
nocturnal coleoptera and lepidoptera, there is no doubt they were
engaged in a good work. The Owlet Nightjar passes the day in
the hollow limb of any convenient tree, and at breeding time
deposits three or four white eggs on the rubbish at the bottom of
the spout. The shells of the eggs are very hard, and when two
or three are rolled together they make a ringing noise as though
constructed of china.

168 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxana, Gould. — Although
these well-known birds are so numerous in the southern and
eastern parts of Australia, and are somewhat migratory, still some
of them remain in the same localities the whole year. I have a
well-authenticated instance of a pair of birds, one of which was
marked, remaining at Heidelberg for 5 years. In Northern
Territory or Central Australia they are very rare, being only seen
once during my stay there of nearly four months. They appear
to give place to the White-breasted Swallow.

White-breasted Swallow, Cheramceca leuco sternum, Gould. —
Whilst the Welcome Swallow prefers the eastern and southern
portions of the continent the White-breasted Swallow makes its
home in the dry, hot, and sandy portions of Central and Western
Australia. A few may be seen in the dry parts of Victoria and
New South Wales, but their home and breeding place is un-
doubtedly in the localities indicated. Unlike the Welcome
Swallow, which builds its mud nest under a bridge, verandah, or
overhanging rock, in which it deposits its four spotted eggs, the
bird under notice tunnels into the sandy bank of a creek or river,
or forms a receptacle for its three or four pure white eggs in the
crevice between rocks. Several of these tunnels, which I ex-
amined on theFinke River in July, 1894, penetrated to a distance
of over two feet, at the extremity of which a small chamber was
formed. As I was too early for their eggs, I am again indebted
to Messrs. Cowle and Field for several clutches, all of which are
pure white and somewhat glossy.

Fairy Martin, Lagenoplastes ariel, Gould. — The Fairy
Martin is no doubt very widely dispersed over the whole of Aus-
tralia. Whether it leaves the continent soon after the young are
reared or simply migrates northward to avoid the cold and
moisture of our winter is somewhat doubtful, but it is certain that
I took a number of their eggs during an excursion of this Club
near Bacchus Marsh in the month of November, and that on
visiting the locality again a few weeks later I discovered that the
birds had all disappeared. In May, 1894, 1 saw large flocks of them
near Charlotte Waters, which is close to the southern boundary of
Northern Territory. In June, 1897, numbers of them were seen
near Cue, in Western Australia, and at the Fitzroy River, also in
Western Australia, but much further north, they were numerous in
December.

Red-backed Kingfisher, Halcyon pyrrhopygius, Gould. —
There are few birds in Australia which have such a wide range as
the species under notice. It is solitary and silent in habit during
most of the year, but as mating time approaches either male or
female may be seen perched on the topmost branch of some
favourite tree, where it gives forth one single note many times
repeated. In course of time the vocalist is either joined by

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 169

or goes in search of one of the opposite sex. After repeating this
practice several times the pair usually start housekeeping in a
hollow branch or hole tunnelled in a bank. After four or five
round, glossy-white eggs have been deposited and duly hatched,
the offspring are fed on small lizards, grubs, and grasshoppers.
Although the Red-backed Kingfisher is partial to the vicinity of
water in hot weather, in order to gratify its taste for bathing, in
winter I saw many of them in scattered mulga scrub or open
forest far from water.

Black-faced Wood Swallow, Artamus melanops, Gould. —
One of the first, and certainly the last, birds noted during the
wanderings of the Horn Scientific Expedition in Central Aus-
tralia, was the Black-faced Wood Swallow. Whilst loading our
camels preparatory to make a start from Oodnadatta, several pairs
were seen perched on the few stunted trees near camp. They
appeared to be very affectionate towards each other, and when
not engaged gliding or soaring past the camels in pursuit of flies
were always close together, preening each other's feathers. They
were found throughout the journey, but after breeding time was
past they congregated in flocks for some time. Like Artamus
sordidus, they are local in their habits. Their open saucer-shaped
nests are usually placed in the horizontal forked branch of any
convenient tree. The four eggs which constitute a full clutch
vary considerably in colour. Whilst some are heavily blotched
with bright red on a fleshy white ground, others are marked with
patches of dark brown and slaty-grey on a dirty white ground.
Although strong on the wing the Black-faced Wood Swallow is
seldom seen far from timber or scrub, like A. personatus and A.
superciliosus, which frequent open grass plains in quest of food.

Red-lored Pardalote, Pardalotus rubricatus, Gould. — This
is undoubtedly the most northern species of the genus, and the
farthest south I found these birds was on the Petermann Creek,
where they were hopping amongst the foliage of the gum trees
skirting the watercourse. At first I was puzzled by the note,
which was low, soft, and always uttered twice in exactly the same
key. When once heard, it is easily recognized on a subsequent
occasion. The beautiful red lores on the adult birds are very
conspicuous. As these birds are said to breed in holes in the
ground, similar to the nesting-place of P. punctatus, I was
surprised to see them exploring the hollow branches of several
trees. However, the eggs which Mr. Cowle has forwarded were
taken from a hole in a bank.

Striated Pardalote, Pardalotus ornatus, Temm. — Although
these birds are very generally scattered on the southern portions
of the continent, the specimens secured in Central Australia
were shot at Alice Well and Stevenson Creek, and others seen
much farther north. Their habits are too well known to
necessitate an extended notice. — (To be continued.)

170 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

DISCOVERY OF THE NEST AND EGGS OF THE
AUSTRALIAN SNIPE.

By A. J. Campbell.

(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \Ath Feb.. 1898.^

The Australian Snipe, Gallinago australis, was first described by
Dr. Latham in 1801, and is sometimes known as Latham's
Snipe. All sportsmen are familiar with the " long-bills," but
little is known of their natural economy, while their nests and
eggs were only discovered last year, or nearly a century after the
birds themselves became known to ornithological science.

Seebohm, in his splendid work, " The Geographical Dis-
tribution of Plovers, Sandpipers, and Snipes," states the
Australian Snipe " breeds in both islands of Japan, and passes
the Philippine Islands and the coast of China on migration to
winter (i.e., to escape the northern winter and really to summer)
in Australia and Tasmania." Colonel Legge observes that
although the Snipe passes over much latitude, its path is very
narrow, as it does not touch the China coast on its flight from
Japan to the north of Australia.

The Japanese, who call the bird Yamashinja, take little
interest in the natural history of their country. That is one
reason why the nest and eggs remained so long undiscovered,
and why we know so little .of the domestic matters of this
feathered migrant, so full of interest to Australians.

When Messrs. S. H. Rowe and J. Kelly, of the Customs
Department of Victoria, were deputed by the Government in
1894 to undertake a "Trade Mission" to the East, I very
naturally thought of Snipe, and Mr. Rowe kindly made a private
memorandum in his pocket-book. When he reached Japan Mr.
Rowe was introduced to Mr. Alan Owston, of Yokohama, the
only person there likely to procure Snipe's eggs.

I corresponded with Mr. Owston for three years, till at length
he writes : — " I am the proud possessor of the eggs of Scolopax
(Gallinago) australis. I have had extraordinary trouble and
expense to obtain them. The birds breed on the grassy moor-
lands at the foot of Fujiyama at an elevation of 2,000 to 3,000
feet above the sea. Fujiyama is 12,500 feet high. I watched
them on the 28th April (1897), and on other dates during the
breeding season. When alarmed they fly round high overhead,
circling generally against the sun, and every now and again they
cry ' chip, chip, cheo, che-cheo,' and then rush downward at the
intruder, beating the air in their descent and making a terrific
rushing noise. When the weather is foggy and they come close
down the noise is so startling that it is some time before a nervous
person can get accustomed to it. Heard in the distance it may
be easily mistaken for the hard breathing of a railway engine

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 171

climbing a mountain gradient. They make about two or three
downward dives during each circuit."

The handsome clutch of eggs I am indebted to Mr. Owston
for was accompanied by the following data : — " 363. Scolopax
australis. Nest on ground, among grass. Harasatomura,
Cotemba. 17th May, 1897. Contained 4 eggs."

The Snipe has been observed in Japan from April to August.
When they take their great southward flight, as soon as Australia
is reached some probably land, others go south-west, but the bulk
of migration continues down the eastern portion of the con-
tinent to Tasmania, the southern limit.

My record (assisted by Mr. P. N. Jenkins, fish salesman, &c,
Swanston-street, who generally exhibits the first bird shot) for
the last nine years of the annual arrival of the advance-guards ot
snipes in the vicinity of Melbourne is as follows : —

1889, 5th or 6th September ; 1890, 3rd September ; 1891, end
August ; 1892, middle August ; 1893, 30th August ; 1894, 1st Sep-
tember; 1895, 22nd August ; 1896, 4th August; 1897, 27th July.

For an early arrival the last date is a " record." I thought that
bird might have been maimed, or had remained during winter in
Australia, but I ascertained that several birds about that time or
soon after were seen in the same locality, which was Heatherton,
between Cheltenham and Dandenong.

By September and October the majority of the snipes have
arrived, and may be found in favoured swampy situations, feeding
on worms and aquatic insects. When flushed the snipe utters a
prolonged " scrape-scrape," and, not being of extraordinary rapid
flight, offers a good mark to a sportsman. A brace of birds in
good condition should turn the scale at 1 1 ozs.

Towards the end of the Australian autumn the snipes — those,
at least, that have happily'missed being shot or otherwise killed —
turn their long bills northward again, and the exodus from
Australia is probably complete by March or April (Mr. Keart-
land's latest record was a brace and a half of birds shot at
Clayton, Victoria, on 12th March), when the land of the
eucalypts is deserted in favour of the upland marshes of the
snow-clad peak of Fujiyama, and other similar places in Japan.

The eggs may be thus described : — Pyriform, or pear-shaped ;
texture of shell comparatively fine ; surface glossy; colour, warm
stone-grey, boldly blotched and spotted, especially round the
upper quarter, with rich umber and dull or cloudy purplish-
brown ; some of the heavier markings have the appearance of
having been wiped on with a brush. Somewhat large compared
with the size of the bird, and except for their larger size come
nearest in likeness to those of the Turnstone, Arenaria interpres.
Dimensions of a clutch in inches: — (1) 177 x 1*2, (2) 173 x

1-22, (3) 171 X I'22, (4) 17 X 121.

172 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

NOTES.

Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo. — Mr. J. C. Goudie, Birchip,
writes as follows : — " With regard to the question, Does the
young of the Narrow-Billed Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis) eject its
foster-brethren from the nest ? touched upon by Mr. A. J.
Campbell in his article in the Naturalist for March, the following,
taken from my note-book, may be of interest to your readers : —
* On the 5th of November, 1897, a nest of the White-fronted
Ephthianura, E. albifrons, was noticed, containing a clutch of
three eggs of the rightful owner and an egg of the Narrow-
billed Bronze Cuckoo. Between the 5th and 8th one of the
Ephthianura's and the Cuckoo's egg were hatched, and the
difference in size was at once noticeable, the usurper being half
as large again as its nest-mate. By the 8th inst. the two re-
maining eggs had been thrown out, and the same day I was
fortunate enough to witness a determined attempt on the part of
the young cuckoo to eject its smaller companion. First of all it
assumed an upright sitting posture, then wriggled and shuffled
about until it managed to get the young Ephthianura fairly on to
its (the Cuckoo's) back ; it then rose on tip-toe, with its back to
the side of the nest, and, spreading its wings and using them as
arms to keep its load in position, it endeavoured, by a series of
violent upward jerks, to force the latter out of the nest. On this
occasion it was not quite equal to the task, and, after a pro-
tracted struggle, gave it up. However, by the evening of the
next day it had accomplished its purpose, and rested in undis-
puted possession. A more remarkable exhibition of instinct I
have never seen — more wonderful from the fact that the bird
was practically just out of the egg, blind, and seemingly helpless.'
While on the subject of this Cuckoo, I may mention an
incident which came under my notice last spring. A female of
Malurus melanotus was observed building her nest in a tangle of
high grass and twigs, and while the operation was in full swing —
she had just begun the business of lining — a Narrow-billed
Bronze Cuckoo's egg was deposited in the nest. I watched this
circumstance with interest, expecting, as is usual in such cases,
that the egg would be covered over, and thus treated with con-
tempt. But, no! Resenting this unwarrantable intrusion, the little
builder removed the entire nest, bit by bit, and rebuilt it about a
stone-throw from the old situation, leaving the Cuckoo's egg
lying on the ground."

Field Naturalists' Club Library. — The following period-
icals are now regularly placed in the library for the use of
members : — " Natural Science," " Annals and Magazine of
Natural History," "Geological Magazine," "Zoologist," "Science
Gossip," "Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," and " Journal of
Royal Microscopical Society."

Preliminary Notice.

-4

ustwlaiwuf Jstfotiattott for tk

^

A

^i\m\\m\\m of $ mm*

Objects of the Association.

The objects of the Association are to give a stronger impulse
and a more systematic direction to scientific enquiry ; to pro-
mote the intercourse of those who cultivate science in different
parts of the Australasian Colonies and in other countries ; to
obtain more general attention to the objects of science, and a
removal of any disadvantages ot a public kind which may
impede its progress.

The Seventh Session of the Association will commence in
Sydney on January fith next, and last till the following Thurs-
day. The meetings of the Association have hitherto been
very successful, and there is every reason to believe that the
forthcoming gathering will be equally well attended. It will
be held during the Christmas and New Year vacations of the
Universities and Colleges, which it is hoped will be a convenient
time for a very large proportion of the members to attend.

<<*

SEVENTH SESSION,

TO BE HELD IN

SYDNEY,

COMMENCING

THURSDAY, IANUAKY 6, 1898.

Under the direction of the following Officers : —

President Elect :
Professor A. LIVERSIDGE, M.A., L.L.D., F.R.S.

Vice-Presidents :

His Excellency The Right Hon. VISCOUNT
HAMPDEN, Governor of New South Wales.

Sir JAMES HECTOR, K.C.M.G., M.D., Etc.

Professor RALPH TATE, F.G.S., F.L.S.

Hon. A. C. GREGORY, C.M.G., M.L.C.

H. C. RUSSELL, C.M.G., B.A., F.R.S.

Permanent Hon. Secretary :
Professor A. LIVERSIDGE, LL.D., F.R.S.

General Treasurer :

H. C. RUSSELL, C.M.G., F.R.S., Government Astrono-
mer of New South Wales.

i

Members of the Council :

i.) Present and former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Trea-
surers and Secretaries of the Association, and present
and former Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Secre-
taries of the Sections.
(2.) Authors of Reports or of Papers published in extenso
in the Annual Reports of the Association.

Local Committees :

In the intervals between the Sessions of the Association
affairs are managed in the various colonies by Local
Committees. The Local Committee of each colony
shall consist of the members of Council resident in
that colony.

Local Secretaries :

E. F. J. LOVE, M.A., m^mm^^^. Melbourne.

Professor PARKER, D.Sc, F.R.S., C.M.Z.S., Otago
University, New Zealand.

ALEXANDER MORTON, F.L.S.,Tasmanian Museum,
Hobart.

Professor RENNIE, M.A., D.Sc, University of
Adelaide.

Professor BRAGG, M.A., University of Adelaide.
JOHN SHIRLEY, B.Sc, Cordelia-street, S. Brisbane.

Officers of Sections, 18g8.
Section A. -Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics.
President.— R. L. J. ELLERY, C.M.G., F.R.S.
Vice-L3residcnts. — To be appointed.

Secretaries.— Professor A. THRELFALL, M.A. ; J.
ARTHUR POLLOCK, B.Sc.

Section B.— Chemistry.
President.— ]:. C. CLOUD, A.R.S.M F.IC, F.C.S.
Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.
Secretary.— W. M. HAMLET, F.I.C., F.C.S.

Section C— Geology and Mineralogy.

President— Captain F. W. HUTTON, F.R.S., F.G.S.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretaries.— Proi essor T. W. E. DAVID, B.A., F.G.S. ;
E. F. PITTMAN, A.R.S.M., F.G.S.,

Section D.— Biology.

President.— Professor T. J. PARKER, D.Sc, F.R.S.

Vice-President. — To be appointed.-

Secretaries. — Professor W. A. HASWELL, M.A., D.Sc,
F.L.S. ; J. H. MAIDEN, F.C.S., F.L.S.

Section E.— Geography.

President. — To be appointed.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretary.— H. S. W. CRUMMER. Secretary Royal
Geographical Society of Australasia.

Section F.— Ethnology and Anthropology.

President. -A. VV. HOWITT, F.G.S.
Vice- Presidents.- -To be appointed.
Secretary.— JOHN FRASER, B.A., LL.D

Section G.— Economic Science and Agriculture.

President— -R. M. JOHNSON, F.L.S.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretaries.— R. R. GARRAN, B.A. ; F. B. GUTHRIE,
F.C.S.

Section H.— Engineering and Architecture.

President.— -H. C. STANLEY, M.I.C.E.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretaries.—]. W. GRIMSHAW, M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E. ;
H. C. KENT, M.A.

Section I.— Sanitary Science and Hygiene.

President.- Hon. ALLAN CAMPBELL, M. L. C,
L.R.C.P.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretary.— Dr. F. TIDSWELL, M.B.

Section J.— Mental Science and Education.

President— JOHN SHIRLEY, B.Sc.

Vice-Presidents. — To be appointed.

Secretary.— Professor FRANCIS ANDERSON, M.A.

Terms of Membership.

Ladies and Gentlemen can at once become interim Members
or Associates on payment of^i (by crossed cheque, P.O.O.,
or postal note, with exchange added), to the Permanent
Secretary, the University, Sydney, or to the Local Secretary
of the colony in which they reside. Their election to full
membership has to be confirmed by the Council at the Annual
Session. For the subscription of £it members are entitled to
receive a bound volume of the Annual Proceedings and Report,
with all other publications and privileges accorded to the
Association in general.

It has been decided by the Council in Sydney to suspend,
for this session, the rule requiring new members to pay an
entrance fee.

A member may at any time become a Life Member by one
payment of £\o, in lieu of future annual subscriptions.

Special Notices.

A Reception Room will be opened for the convenience of
members at the commencement ol the session, and which will
be at their disposal daily from 9 a.m.

A list of hotels, boarding houses, and apartments, with their
tariffs, in convenient localities, will be furnished to members of
the Association, and if the amount and nature of the accom-
modation desired are specified in advance to the Permanent
Secretary much inconvenience may be spared to intending
visitors.

Travelling Facilities.

Tickets will be issued to members, on production of a cerli-
ciitc of membership, by the Queensland, New South Wales,
Victorian, South Australian, New Zealand, and Tasmanian
railway authorities, at single fare for the double journey.
These will be available for two months, and the following
reductions have been conceded by the undermentioned Steam-
ship Companies : —

Adelaide Steamship Co., a rebate of

A. U. S. N. Co

Huddart, Parker and Co. ...
N. Z. and A. A. S. Co. ...
Union S. S. Co.
Howard Smith and Sons ...

10%
10%

10%

20%

Excursions.

In addition to the General and Sectional Meetings for read-
ing and discussing Papers, etc., Excursions will be organised
to places of interest, such as the various mining districts, the
Jenolan, YYambeyan and other caves, the Blue Mountains, and
similar places of interest to geologists, botanists, artists, and
others.

New Members.

If not already a member of the Association, and should you
wish to become one, please fill in the accompanying Form I.
and return it as above mentioned. If you desire to contribute
to the proceedings of the Association kindly intimate the title
and nature of your paper by means of Form II. ; if possible
before the end of November next, in order that the list of
papers to be read may be completed at an early date.

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